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No electrical power at all?

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02Lightning

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've been driving my Jeep all winter with no problems down to -18 with the battery. I was in the low twenties this morning and it started fine, It didn't crank low or anything?
I went to go start it this afternoon and it went "click" and I lost all power. No headlights, no dome light, nothing? I checked the battery and I'm getting 12v at the battery, the terminals are tight with no corrosion.
I lifted the fuse box under the hood, and I see none blown. Here's what really has me confused, I'm using my test light under the hood and it's clamped to the negative on the battery, I touch the alternator body and it lights up? I touch it to the engine block where the ground is, and it lights up again? I'm stumped, any ideas?
 
#3 ·
we both know that neg battery to a grounded component should not light test lamp SO,

test lamp not clipped on neg terminal OR vehicle is POS ground...
 

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#4 ·
I've had the same problem occur to me once this winter about a week ago. Same thing, I've been driving my jeep all winter up here in New England no problem. I was driving it fine all day. I went to work and it was sitting for about 8 hours. Came out to start it to go home, I turned the key, the dash lights up like normal and then I go to crank and everything just cut out. I was so confused because my battery is like new. Anyways I was on the phone with a friend to get a jump, even though I had a suspicion that the battery was fine. Midway through my conversation on the phone, while I was looking under the hood for problems, the hood lamp underneath just lit back up, as did the interior lights inside. I hop in and try to crank it, and it starts right up perfectly normal. I hasn't happened since, and I'm also wondering what the problem may have been as I have a hunch that it'll happen again, maybe even worse and leave me stranded. I have the same vehicle as you OP. 01' WJ 4.0 42RE 242 with 205K on the clock. Keep me posted!
 
#5 ·
Occurred to me once the same way. I tapped the battery terminals with a hammer and it was instantly cured. Some moisture must have gotten in between the terminals just enough to prevent a good connection.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
If I get time tonight, I'm going to pull the starter & battery and have them tested. I'm going to bet I'll have a dead battery when I get home. Could of something shorted in the starter solenoid and gave me a positive earth ground? I tried tapping and moving the terminals on the battery, nothing changed.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Double E said:
What happens if you connect the test light to the positive terminal and repeat the test?
Click to expand...
I'll have to try it again, I want to say I got a light, but I'm not sure now that I tested so many things. That really threw me for a loop when it would light from neg. battery, to ground.
 
#10 ·
Loose battery terminals.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but hope this simple solution helps someone else. I had lost all electrical power. Lights wouldn't come on, instrument panel wouldn't light up and even the horn wouldn't blow. After spending about 30 minutes trying to read up on all the possible explanations and solutions on several web sites, I came across this forum and the suggestion to just tap the battery terminals. When I did that, I found that the negative battery cable was COMPLETELY LOOSE. After brushing post and cable clamp with a wire brush, I reattached the cable clamp and tightened it up and all works just fine! Sometimes the simplest solution is the hardest to find.
 
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