Lost all power

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skrelnik

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Jeep is a 2005 LJ with with an Odyssey 4 terminal battery.

Last week I was returning home from work, via train, and when I went to start up the Jeep I put the key in the ignition, turned the key, all lights on the dash turned on, but it didn't crank. I tried a second time and nothing, no dash lights, no sound or click, just completely dead. Was about 20 degrees out all day.

So I turned on my headlights, nothing. I tried to honk the horn, nothing. Oddly enough my KC windshield lights did turn on. They are connected to the two smaller terminals.

I was clueless, no power to the jeep, but the windshield lights are working. I called Triple A at that point. The guy checked my battery and had 12.5 volts, all good. So why wouldn't the car turn, we were both puzzled so we opened the engine bay fuse box and checked fuses. All fuses were good. We shut the fuse box and said guess we need to tow it. As we were closing the fuse box the engine bay light turned on, the interior lights came on. I started the Jeep and all is good, and for the past week the Jeep has been fine.

I am still clueless as to what happened, and I dont want it to happen again, obviously. Anyone have any recommendations on what to do? Thinking about upgrading the wires from the battery to the fuse box, but that's all I can think of. Thanks guys.
 
Something loose around the fuse box maybe? Just thinking the closing action reconnected something so might be a good place to check.
 
jchadscud said:
Something loose around the fuse box maybe? Just thinking the closing action reconnected something so might be a good place to check.
Click to expand...

That's what we thought but double checked that and connections were good. I had the Triple test the voltage at the fuse box and all was good.

As @Daryl said, checking the ground connections may reveal something.
 
Ignition actuator.

DSC_0005.jpg


If you pull the ignition key assembly, unclip it from the starter switch?... you can start it with a screwdriver.

The part is about $60.00 from any aftermarket auto parts store. Chrysler no longer sells it.

There are a few threads on this site about it, and several youtube how to videos.
 
Last edited:
billiebob said:
Ignition actuator.

View attachment 67620

If you pull the ignition key assembly, unclip it from the starter switch?... you can start it with a screwdriver.

The part is about $60.00 from any aftermarket auto parts store. Chrysler no longer sells it.

There are a few threads on this site about it, and several youtube how to videos.
Click to expand...

In post number one OP stated the headlights wouldn’t come on.
 
Daryl said:
Not picking apart your contributions, just trying to help with some logical advice. Carry on.
Merry Christmas @billiebob
Click to expand...

From my understanding of the actuator pin issue, it settles into wherever the metal portion broke - which could explain why none of the accessories/etc work (though I am not sure on the horn - I've not tried mine with the car off and no key in).
 
rasband said:
From my understanding of the actuator pin issue, it settles into wherever the metal portion broke - which could explain why none of the accessories/etc work (though I am not sure on the horn - I've not tried mine with the car off and no key in).
Click to expand...

The horn and headlight circuits are effectively wired hot to the battery. The position of the ignition switch would not affect the operation of either.
 
Daryl said:
The horn and headlight circuits are effectively wired hot to the battery. The position of the ignition switch would not affect the operation of either.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that makes sense reflecting back on how/when things work. Thanks for reminding me :)
 
mots said:
Sorry to hear. Did they load test the battery?
Click to expand...

No load test, just checked the voltage which was 12.5 at the battery terminals and the main fuse box terminals. The battery is only 2 years old so I do think it has to do with a bad ground. Possibly since it was so cold out that day, one of the ground connections may have lost the connection, and then once we shut the engine bays fuse box, that little bang may have knocked it back into place.

Looks like I may reach out to custombatterycables.com to upgrade and replace my existing cables.
 
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skrelnik said:
No load test, just checked the voltage which was 12.5 at the battery terminals and the main fuse box terminals. The battery is only 2 years old so I do think it has to do with a bad ground. Possibly since it was so cold out that day, one of the ground connections may have lost the connection, and then once we shut the engine bays fuse box, that little bang may have knocked it back into place.

Looks like I may reach out to custombatterycables.com to upgrade and replace my existing cables.
Click to expand...

I'm curious as to what ended up solving your issue (if its been solved)!

I'm currently experiencing a very similar issue and I mean VERY similar, even the AAA part. I thought my battery was dead and I called for a jump. The guy hooked up his jump starter box and said hmmm the battery is good.. I started pulling fuses in the glove box and he started pressing down on all the relays and things in the PDC and all the sudden she came back alive. He said the HVAC fuse in the PDC was very loose and when he pressed down on it everything came back. I thanked him and he went on his way.

It seems i too have something loose in the that area so ill double check all the wiring and things but I'm not a very electrically savvy kinda person.
I have recently replaced my battery terminal connections so I'll make sure to tighten those up just in case.

Any tips, tricks, hints, opinions, or processes that may assist are very welcome.
 
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