03 Cobra electrical issue

SN65

Member
Oct 27, 2004
540
1
18
Chicago, IL
I started up the stang for the first time after sitting for about a year. It ran fine for about an hour and then the electrical system started going haywire. I tried to start is again and all I got was a click, click, click as if the battery was dead. I had it towed to a shop thinking that the alternator took a dump or some such issue.

The shop called me this morning and said that they are not sure what the problem is. They charged the battery and the car started up but after about 2 minutes the electrical started going haywire again. after letting the car sit for about 5 minutes, they started it again, and the same issues again.

I am at a loss.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Bob
 
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Sat for a year? IMO you should be thinking rodent activity or water damage. Then followed closely by "stale gas".

Check the grounds along the radiator core support. Check the battery terminals. Especially the battery negative.

Check the ground that goes around the battery following the large black wire with a white stripe to a large round connector. This is the PCM/CCRM ground.

We need to know the voltage at the battery and alternator before and during cranking.

Turn on the head lights. Are they bright? What exactly do the head lights do during cranking?

Confirm power in and out of fuse F2.34, F2.2, and F2.8 using a known good ground. What to do next depends upon the test results.

1996+ Crank with no start check list
https://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/4-6l-tech/336452-1997-mustang-wont-ignite.html

1999-2004 BJB CJB fuse panel layout:
https://www.allfordmustangs.com/for...gt-2001-motor-swap-wont-fire-please-help.html

Howto perform charging system voltage drop test
https://www.stangnet.com/mustang-fo...perform-charging-system-voltage-drop-test.56/
 
Last edited:
Thanks for your speedy response.

I have forwarded this info to the shop looking at the car.

I am wondering why it ran fine for about an hour before it started freaking out? I would think that it would not have run at all if it were a ground issue.

OBTW, it was inside a temp controlled storage facility...