Car stalls and doesn't turn on

[azruss]

your battery chassis ground is very bad. A coat of paint make a great insulator. Even your aftermarket battery clamps can create their own issue. the wires under the clamps can have corrosion within the wires. aftermarket battery ground leads are a good investment. You are starting new from the terminal to the chassis. Also take a good look at the other end of the + cables into the starter solenoid. Remember the alt-battery circuit require good connections at all points to charge and discharge correctly.

[RRoller123]

Time for a new strap, that thing is a nightmare. Both ends are bad, and corrosion working its way up under the insulation. And the shop didn't find this?? You need a new shop I am afraid. No question about it. The positive side doesn't look good either. Should replace them both, I think.

[redcars]

+1 on that ground cable put that thing in the recycle ben and get a new one. Also if the battery cables look that bad at the battery , as has been said, check the positive cable at the starter. Do not forget to check the ground cable that goes from the frame to the trany or engine. One bad connection any place will give you a problem and you have already shown use two. A shop that did not fix this is a place to NEVER go back to.

[wizard124]

Another possibility if the new NEG strap doesn't solve your problem........

Perhaps low voltage and/or bad grounds is affecting your double relay. Could be the double relay itself. One of the relays energizes to close a contact which provides a ground to the ECU and injectors. Clean and inspect those connections at the relay.

With key in RUN:
1)You should read battery voltage at connection #86c (ground to car chassis);
2) You should read battery voltage between #86c and #85 (this tests for good ground into the relay);
3) You should read battery voltage between #88a and #85 ( this tests that the relay is closed and providing a good ground for the ECU and injectors. 88e, and 88b should all test with 85). If this test fails, replace the dbl relay.

[azruss]

One more thing. Rust is also a great insulator, so make sure your chassis connections are rust and paint free.

[dbr]

Thanks all,

I replaced both positive and negative battery cables today. Here are some pics. I couldn't find any rust…that is, so far. I will check the tranny to frame or engine ground. After replacing the cables it wouldn't start so I checked the battery voltage and it read 12.2. I am pretty sure the voltage was 12.8 last night so I took the battery down to the parts store. They said it needed a recharge. So I will find out tonight if the battery is bad or not. It shouldn't go from 12.8 to 12.2 over night especially when I unplugged the clock and radio. Is 12.2/12.3 too low for the car to start and run? Thanks for all the help.