Electrical Problem
 

Well, came home from work today, and went out a few hrs later to move my car and I had no power to the engine. Strange, since the stereo and interior dome light works no problem. The stereo works when I turn the key backwards into the acc position, but not forward. When I turn the key forward, the battery gauge is very low (almost not moving, as though it's drained). I boosted it with a battery pack, and had all the power I needed, dash lights worked, and car started. Took it for a drive to charge the battery, came back, turned the car off, and nothing. Very strange.

From what I understand, if it was running on battery power alone (ie. the alternator is gone) then I shouldn't be able to get too far without the battery gauge showing drain. But it's not. It's reading normal. As well, I should be able to get the car to at least turn over. Right?

If I'm running off alternator alone (battery's gone) then I shouldn't have lights or stereo. But I took the battery out and put it on a trickle charger for the night and the indicator on the charger is reading high.

After I boosted it, the car ran normal. All power for everything. I will be taking it into a garage tomorrow, but if anyone has any ideas (maybe something simple, like a fix I could do myself) please let me know.

Thanks.

Cleaning the battery terminals comes to mind. It may be when you crank you draw enough for a dirty terminal to be too high a resistance but the low amp draws of other things provide enough to make them work. The double whammy is if your terminals are dirty you don't get a decent charge too. You'd be surprise how little skime on thre can affect it Stu

Well... after taking into the garage, they did a battery test and it was the battery. Weird how it can go just like that, but sometimes apparently they do. This came as a relief, as it was a rather cheap repair and not some major surgery right before the summer season.