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98 Cobra won't start

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1337H4X
  • Start date Start date Oct 26, 2011
1

1337H4X

New Member
Oct 26, 2011
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Oct 26, 2011
#1
  • Oct 26, 2011
  • #1
Like the title says I have a 98 Cobra not starting. I was merging onto the freeway yesterday so I got on the throttle a little to get ahead of some traffic and my CEL popped on. I didn't think much of it until my car started sputtering. The battery light then came on and then the engine shut off. pulled off to the saide(obviously). When I try to turn it over the lights dim and so do the guages but no luck, there isn't even a clicking noise, even with jumper cables hooked up. I checked my battery, 12.89 volts. I thought maybe the starter? So I tried push starting it, but still nothing. I'm lost on where to check? Anybody have some suggestions or experience the same thing?
 

wmburns

SN Certified Technician
Aug 14, 2009
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Houston Texas
Nov 1, 2011
#2
  • Nov 1, 2011
  • #2
As hard as it may seem, IMO you have a bad battery or a bad/loose battery cable.

What you say? How can that be? The car was running.

Today's high output alternators require the battery to excite the field coil.

No battery = no alternator

Without a battery, the car will run until the load increases. The alternator will shut down. Without a battery to re-excite the field coil, the motor dies.

The days of jump starting a car with a totally dead battery are OVER.

Have the battery and alternator tested.
 
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