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Help! Car Wont Do Anything!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fabian Gzz
  • Start date Start date Jul 5, 2012

Fabian Gzz

New Member
Jul 5, 2012
2
0
1
Jul 5, 2012
#1
  • Jul 5, 2012
  • #1
Hi, first post here! So i moved to america and decided to get me a mustang to go to school and as a project, and i bought a 98 3.8 5 speed for just 800$ in very good conditions!! It was sitting for about 2 years when i bought it and i got it runing with just replacing the fuel pump, battrry, and fluids and all that stuff.... It was running like a champ until one day it decided not to do anything.... I put the key on and it wont crank and not a single light works, just nothing works... Like if it had no battery, it will start with jump but as soon as i turn it off it wont do anything, nothing electrical will work,I cheked all the fuses and they are all fine, what do you guys think? Any info will be really appreciated thanks!
 

wmburns

SN Certified Technician
Aug 14, 2009
5,892
514
204
Houston Texas
Jul 5, 2012
#2
  • Jul 5, 2012
  • #2
bad battery, bad battery cables, or loose battery ground. The clue is that it will start with a jump.

Remember that no battery = no alternator. So without a battery to power the alternator, the alternator quits generating power when the jumper cables are removed.
 

Fabian Gzz

New Member
Jul 5, 2012
2
0
1
Jul 16, 2012
#3
  • Jul 16, 2012
  • #3
Sorry for the long time... It turned out to be a bad battery, even though it was brand new. Now that means the car kills batteries... Any ideas of what might be causing that? Also someone attempted to steal the car last night ( good thing battery was dead haha) and know the key will not open the door because the door lock is really damaged, and to make things worst i dont have a remote or FOB to open it... Is it fixabe without having to use a different key on that door than the others? Thanks a lot!
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,267
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Box behind Walmart
Jul 16, 2012
#4
  • Jul 16, 2012
  • #4
Junk Yard. You need the ignition switch, both door locks, the hatch lock, and a set of keys.

You alternator is probably toast. Have it tested at your favorite auto-parts store. It probably charges the battery just fine but if the diode is bad, the battery tries to run it like a motor when the car is shut off.

Good Luck and welcome aboard.
 
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