So my car's electrical blew up today.........

**RRU** · 11-24-2010, 01:32 PM

I don't know what happened here. I don't think I've ssen anything like it. I have an 02 T/A with 14K on it and it sits. Don't drive it and it sits. To keep the battery charged I use a solar charger directly to the battery posts and untill. If that maters, I don't know? I started it up today to move it two feet and it ran for about 3 minutes. I went to move it forward and it was like lighting hit it. Went like boom and everything just powered down. Like that robot when Smith pulls his power pack in Lost in Space.

Now I get nothing...no power at all. It's totally dead. Nothing lights dings or cranks. No power locks. No alarm....nothing. Dead.

This migh sound silly but is there some kind of a main fuse in a car?

**pajeff02** · 11-24-2010, 01:50 PM

If it went boom that bad you should be able to see where it smoked. Any possibility the starter harness contacted the exhaust? Batteries do occasionally go poof, is the case distorted? Alternator harness? Battery cables? Lots to look at -- definitely start by disconnecting the ground from the battery before you go playing with things.

**RRU** · 11-24-2010, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

If it went boom that bad you should be able to see where it smoked. Any possibility the starter harness contacted the exhaust? Batteries do occasionally go poof, is the case distorted? Alternator harness? Battery cables? Lots to look at -- definitely start by disconnecting the ground from the battery before you go playing with things.

No smoke no smell nothing looks crazy. It's outside and it's raining 30 dregrees in Chicago. Strange the batery seems fine. The green eye even looks up at me. That's why I was thinking fuse.

I've had strange stuff happen with GM electical before but this is confounding.

I'll have to go put a meter on battery and see what it says.

**pajeff02** · 11-24-2010, 02:04 PM

If the battery tests good then start with the cables. Not a bad idea to wear eye protection, just in case.

**gnomee** · 11-24-2010, 03:05 PM

That is VERY strange. If your solar charger does not have a voltage regulator/ charge controller then it could possibly have been over charging the battery to the point it cooked it. I have seen a battery be dead with the green eye still glowing before.

Let us know what you find out, I'm sure we can help figure it out!

**RRU** · 11-24-2010, 03:20 PM

I went an put a voltmeter on it and it came up with 12V but there's no way to tell the amps. This time the alarm light was flickering when I opened the door. Maybe it's just the battery?........... Is costco open on Thanksgiving?

**cammed goat** · 11-24-2010, 06:19 PM

The last time I heard a "BOOM", it was a battery for a Dodge Ram Cummins. Was a few years ago. Coworker connected a battery tester to the battery and..."BOOM!!!!!"

**DaddySS** · 11-27-2010, 07:03 AM

Most of the electrical issues are either connections or the battery. First step is to remove both cables, thoroughly clean the terminals, and have the battery tested or conet it back up and see what you have after cleaning the terminals.

**KMdef9** · 11-27-2010, 08:27 AM

I'd carefully take the battery up to and autoparts store that testes them for free.

Then I'd do what Jeff recommended and inspect all of the major wires.

If you can't find the any problems with any of them, take the alternator off and get it tested as well.

All-in-all, I think your solar power charger might be to blame for this. The only reason I think I might not be is because it didn't happen right away. I think that is it had over charged the battery, it wuld have wetn pop right as is got overcharged, before you even started it. Or even when you first put a load on the battery, not 3 minutes later. Sounds like something in the charging went bad though.