No head lights or dash lights no power or crank.

[Blackhippy2016]

I have a 97 v6 that has been sitting for over a year and I’m currently trying to get it to start again. I have put a new battery in it and a brand new starter as well and the only think I get is a very weak chime and a check engine light that barely illuminates. The windows, radio, headlights also don’t work. So I was told that a alternator could drain the battery if it’s bad but I had no problems with it before it was down. Would there be something else that’s causing it to not have power such as a fuse or short in a wire somewhere? I do want to mention that it was rained in a few times because the window was busted but the battery wasn’t connected at the time I believe.

 

[RAU03MACH]

If you have a manual start checking fuses and relay
In fuse box
Then check grounding

 

[Blackhippy2016]

Checked

If you have a manual start checking fuses and relay
In fuse box
Then check grounding

checked all the fuses they are fine and the ground is okay too

 

[RAU03MACH]

You probably have ground issue somewhere
If light are dim
Battery have at least 12.30 v

 

[Blackhippy2016]

You probably have ground issue somewhere
If light are dim
Battery have at least 12.30 v

I’m getting 12.6 v

 

[RAU03MACH]

Crank it and tell me what voltage your at while cranking over

 

[RAU03MACH]

I wanna know the voltage drop

 

[ttocs]

check the vehicle grounds. By check I mean follow to where they connect, remove the bolt holding them, clean both surfaces with sand paper and then tighten it back down till it does not wiggle. I do not mean look at them or just touch them. With electrical you have to start simple or you feel stupid in the end.

 

[Blackhippy2016]

check the vehicle grounds. By check I mean follow to where they connect, remove the bolt holding them, clean both surfaces with sand paper and then tighten it back down till it does not wiggle. I do not mean look at them or just touch them. With electrical you have to start simple or you feel stupid in the end.

I found this wire down by the starter I’m wondering if it’s a ground?

 

[ttocs]

starter grounds to the block, no wires. The only wire that thick to the starter is the starter power wire and it looks like the ring terminal is missing on the end. CRimp a new one on and it should screw back on.

 

[Blackhippy2016]

starter grounds to the block, no wires. The only wire that thick to the starter is the starter power wire and it looks like the ring terminal is missing on the end. CRimp a new one on and it should screw back on.

I sent it to the mechanic to have it done it looks like it already is.

Crank it and tell me what voltage your at while cranking over

I’ll have to get a second person to help me with that

 

[RAU03MACH]

Once you see if voltage drops
You may have an instant draw
Or a bad battery

 

[RAU03MACH]

Like ttocs said check and make sure those starter wires have a good terminal and a good crimp connection

 

[Blackhippy2016]

starter grounds to the block, no wires. The only wire that thick to the starter is the starter power wire and it looks like the ring terminal is missing on the end. CRimp a new one on and it should screw back on.

I have a 97 v6 that has been sitting for over a year and I’m currently trying to get it to start again. I have put a new battery in it and a brand new starter as well and the only think I get is a very weak chime and a check engine light that barely illuminates. The windows, radio, headlights also don’t work. So I was told that a alternator could drain the battery if it’s bad but I had no problems with it before it was down. Would there be something else that’s causing it to not have power such as a fuse or short in a wire somewhere? I do want to mention that it was rained in a few times because the window was busted but the battery wasn’t connected at the time I believe.

I found that when I ground put this wire to a metal surface it the battery light came back on

 

[RAU03MACH]

Possible

 

[RAU03MACH]

Another way
Take a jumper cable ground to battery and the other end to a good part of the block or chassis
That is a 100 % ground try it

 

[RAU03MACH]

That is if you continue to have problems
Hook up that wire for sure

 

[Daryl]

Could a loose or faulty ignition cylinder be involved? Just grasping at straws, but you never know…

 

[Randall Garner]

Check you cable from battery to fuse block in engine compartment. It may of failed

 

[Blackhippy2016]

UPDATE: The wire that I found hanging was indeed a ground wire. To test it I latched it on to a rack and pinon bolt and all the lights and electronics started working properly. Now I have to find a place to properly ground it since its just sitting on a stud. Thank you all for pointing me in the right direction!