So, I jump in my 95 SC400 a few days ago and go to crank it, and nothing. It clicks once like it is a dead battery then dies. I assume I left a light on or something, but then the lights on the dashboard start slowly lighting back up, and then the electronics: stereo, headlights, everything click back on like nothing happened. I try to turn the ignition again to start the car and all the electronics click off totally dead again. This happens like for or five more times, before on about the sixth try, the engine cranks and it starts up like nothing was wrong. It happened again this morning, and I'm worried I might need a new battery. Any ideas?

 

It's better for it to be the battery than the starter...let's just say that.

 

oh yea I forgot to mention, the starter was replaced like 4 months ago. It should be good.

 

How about the alternator?

 

Even though you've changed it, I have to say from your description that it sounds like it could be flat spots on your starter.

Hopefully not though.

 

My guess is wiring harness or possibly a bad ecu.

 

yea, did it again this morning and I cannot even get it to start up this time. I think it is dead. I turn the ignition to on, but do not try to crank it, and all the electrical, cuts on, then cuts off, then cuts back on, then cuts back off, sometimes slowly, sometimes immediately. I push the brakes down, the electrical cuts off, then cuts back off. i try to turn the ignition to start the car, and the electrical cuts off, then cuts back on....any new ideas?

 

Try to disconnect the battery overnight and see what happens next day.

 

The first thing to check is that the battery terminals are clean and tight. If you can move the battery terminal connection on the battery post you have found your problem, it may have NOT been tightened properly after they replaced your starter. By the sounds of your description it seems like a connection issue. Who ever the person was that said it "may be" ecu related has NO clue what they are talking about! If you do not find any loose or dirty battery terminals the next thing is to try putting a set of jumper cables on the battery, this will determine if YOUR battery is dead and or the source of the problem. My final place to look would be at the starter and the connections on it. I am REALLY leaning at a bad connection at the battery being your issue.

 

yea I am almost certain its a bad connection on the battery terminal. Thanks for the help everyone.