Dead Cavalier.  Need help diagnosing problem.

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich) 05/19/2015 at 22:02 • Filed to: None

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Note: That’s Cavalier, not Cadaver.

My wife and I were out doing a bit of shopping. We came back to the parking lot, got in the car. She started it, put it in gear, and we started moving and the car (a 2001 2-door Cavalier) came to a complete dead halt. She turned it off, pulled out the key, put the key back in, and it didn’t chime - no electrical activity at all. We tried various combinations of turning it off, switching gears (it’s a manual transmission) - nothing. No activity whatsoever. I had a quick look at the major fuses, and everything looked fine. She has AMA, and got a tow truck to come. Attempting to jump start it had the same effect - nothing. No door chime, no lights on the dash.

Any guesses on what it might be?

UPDATE: You geniuses called it!

Lead from the one battery terminal that runs to the fuse box was completely corroded in half. Whenever the washer fluid is filled up but spills over, it leaks down onto the terminal. Not sure what the correct name for it is, but the copper eyelet that gets bolted on to the bottom of the fuse box was corroded in two. I tried soldering it back on, but the solder wouldn’t stick. Thankfully we have another vehicle, so I’m going to send my wife on a mission tomorrow of finding some crimp-on eyelets.

Effef > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/19/2015 at 22:06

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Check the connections at the battery, make sure they haven’t come loose and that the terminals are still there.

RustedSprinter > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/19/2015 at 22:07

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I’d check the ground on the battery tray.

bryan40oop > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/19/2015 at 22:24

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Could be anything from a loose terminal to dead pcm.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/19/2015 at 22:59

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Definitely battery connections. Whether at the battery or where the ground connects to chassis or where positive connects to main pre-fuse box or whatever it has. It can’t be any further in to the system than that or the key would do something, or you would have done lights with doors open. Sometimes those stupid side terminal batteries break internally and lose connection there.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/19/2015 at 23:47

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Possibly a main power supply connection. A little odd that it happened while running, since you can completely disconnect the battery once the alternator is charging. Check the 12V Outlet in the dash-those are generally wired direct to battery so if they work then the main battery cables are intact.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > bryan40oop 05/19/2015 at 23:51

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I updated the original post with a picture. Connection was corroded in half.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 05/19/2015 at 23:51

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Updated the original post. It looks like the jolt of getting the car moving was enough to break the remaining strands of wire.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Effef 05/19/2015 at 23:52

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Very close! The terminals were a bit corroded as well, but not nearly as bad as what I found. Updated the original post with a picture.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > RustedSprinter 05/19/2015 at 23:52

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Very close! Not quite the ground to the battery tray, but the connection to the fuse box. I’ve updated the original post with a picture.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/19/2015 at 23:58

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Glad you figured it out. Always happy to help. I’ve been a shade tree mechanic and service advisor for some years. Anybody on oppo needs some OEM service info, specs, or wiring diagrams just send ‘em my way.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 05/20/2015 at 00:00

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The help is greatly appreciated! Tonight was a bit of a nice confidence booster. I’d eventually like to get a project car, and it’s nice to know that (even with a bit of help), I can figure things out and make something work again.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/20/2015 at 00:05

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Project cars are what keep my mind busy. Mostly with wondering why I buy things that have trees growing through them.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 05/20/2015 at 00:08

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Sometimes it is hard to see the end from the beginning, but I really bet it is worth it: