Clicks once, loses all power

1996 FORD BRONCO

92,000 MILES • 5.8L • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC

WOODSONA

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Came out yesterday morning to a vehicle that wouldn't start after sitting for one day. The weather has been warm so not a cold weather issue. It clicked but wouldn't start. I jumped it off another vehicle and it started up. I figured I had a drain somewhere on the battery but would just keep the circuit open until I found it. Went out and got a new battery for it in the meantime. I put the battery in went to start it and it loudly clicked once and lost all power everywhere. I'm kind of at a loss for what it could be at this point, any advice is appreciated.

Jan 13, 2020 at 5:33 AM

SCGRANTURISMO

CERTIFIED EXPERT
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

I would recommend double checking the battery connections. Please ensure that they are clean, tight, corrosion free, and making good metal to metal contact. In the diagrams down below I have included the starting and charging wiring diagrams for your vehicle, as well as guides on how to find a parasitic draw situation in an automobile. I have also included guides on known electrical problems in automotive electrical circuits and how to find unwanted resistance in an automotive electrical system using voltage drop. You will need to use a Digital Multi-meter [DMM] to go through these guides, so here is a link below explaining how to use one, if needed:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Please check the battery's connections and go through these guides and apply them to your situation, if needed. Please get back to us with what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Jan 13, 2020 at 7:46 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

CERTIFIED EXPERT
110,175 POSTS

Hi,

Most commonly, what you described is related to a connection issue. Make sure the battery terminals are clean and tight, free of corrosion. Also, if you have a universal replacement type bolt-on terminal, make sure it is clean and secure where the wire is pushed into the clamp as well.

Take a look through this link. It describes the most common causes of what you described.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Let us know.

Joe

Mar 3, 2020 at 7:49 PM