93 SL2 electrical problems: NOW it gets WIERD

[J.B. Bobbitt]

Per previous post, I've been having some intermittant electrical problems.

In short: it starts and runs well most of the time. Sometimes after it starts, the lights dim, the gauges quit, and the aftermarket CD player/radio turns on repeatedly. Once you shut the key off after that, the electrical system is dead (like the battery is drained: no solenoid click, no lights, no seat belt action, nuttin'). I charge the battery and its fine, for a while, until next time.

BUT, the BATTERY isn't dead. After simply disconnecting both leads, and re-connecting, it starts and runs fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks a heap,
-jbb

 

[blah blah]

Per previous post, I've been having some intermittant electrical problems.

In short: it starts and runs well most of the time. Sometimes after it starts, the lights dim, the gauges quit, and the aftermarket CD player/radio turns on repeatedly. Once you shut the key off after that, the electrical system is dead (like the battery is drained: no solenoid click, no lights, no seat belt action, nuttin'). I charge the battery and its fine, for a while, until next time.

BUT, the BATTERY isn't dead. After simply disconnecting both leads, and re-connecting, it starts and runs fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks a heap,
-jbb

Yeah you likely "had" a poor connection at your battery post. Keep your contacts clean.

 

[J.B. Bobbitt]

I should have mentioned in the original post that there is no obvious corrosion on either post or cable. Thanks though, blah blah.

-jbb

 

[gvg]

I have a 93 SL2, and I had an electrical problem that was kind of similar to yours. It recurred three or four times about once every year and a half. In between recurrences though there was no problem. The problem was that the entire electrical system would go dead.

When the failure occurred I measured a dead short across the battery terminals. The dealer was not able to diagnose it because the short would be gone by the time they got it. I finally figured out that it was the headlight switch that was shorting out. After replacing it, I have not had the problem for four years.

Your problem does not sound exactly like mine, but if you are losing your entire electrical system then maybe this might be a clue for you.

gvg

 

[Chris (5)]

Per previous post, I've been having some intermittant electrical problems.

In short: it starts and runs well most of the time. Sometimes after it starts, the lights dim, the gauges quit, and the aftermarket CD player/radio turns on repeatedly. Once you shut the key off after that, the electrical system is dead (like the battery is drained: no solenoid click, no lights, no seat belt action, nuttin'). I charge the battery and its fine, for a while, until next time.

BUT, the BATTERY isn't dead. After simply disconnecting both leads, and re-connecting, it starts and runs fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks a heap,
-jbb

Check your connections at the starter. That was my problem.

Chris