Starting problem - please help

[Polemarch]

I've had this problem happe twice now today. I deactivate the alarm, beeps fine, get in car, turn on the ignition and then try and start. As soon as I turn the key the power cuts, no lights, nothing. If I leave it for a few mins, come back and try again it works fine.

I've just driven home. Stopped. Turned the engine off, left for while and tried again and it starts. I'm now paranoid it will cut again. Is this a battery problem or something else? To clarify, once it has cut out I have no power to anything. Every light on the car goes out out.

[terribleturner]

Loose battery teminal?? Could be a fault imobilser. Do you know if it kills the electrics (spark) Or fuel??

[Polemarch]

I don't know, how would I check that? :-) When it cuts I lose the lot. The alarm does nothing, lights won't come on, central locking is off etc. When it did it once I did tap the battery terminal and went back and it started. You think it could be the connector?

[terribleturner]

Yeah sounds to me the actual terminals/connets attached to the battery are loose. Tomorrow (or tonight if you like :D ) try to see if they move on the battery. If so tighten up the nuts so they don't move. Also look to see if there's any white/green powder on the battery terminals. Possible there's a build up and it's not helping things. If so clean off and tighten everything back up.

[Paul@SWZ]

As above or a faulty earth but check battery terminals first.

[Mas]

got the exact problem, even happened today(its every day really) it even cuts the engine off sometimes while Im driving in the road, its kind of scary TBH as it lucks every thing and hard to steer or even stop the car :(
I always though its the imobilizer! got a TOAD CAT1 if that ring any bells.

[terribleturner]

Cuts it while driving?? :faint: Do you think it happenss when you hit a bump??

[Mas]

Cuts it while driving?? :faint: Do you think it happenss when you hit a bump??

no, it cuts as Im just driving and kills the engine :( very tricky though specially when Im just about to go round a corner or something!!!!!!!!!

[Polemarch]

Would the immobiler cut every single electrical item including the trip, lights, alarm itself or does this sound battery/connection related? It has only happened in the last 24 hours, was fine before this.

[Ric]

i got this once on my old civic was a oxidized battery terminal giving a bad connection