Hey guys. This has just started happening. I have a 93 SC400. I go to start the car and everything goes dead. Dash lights go out (except for the needles), the clock and the tripometer reset. Car just sits there dead. However if I try to crank it again and I leave the key in the on position the car seems to regain power (almost like it is charging back up) and come back to life. The dash lights come back on and the car starts right up.

Any ideas? Maybe the ecu going out?

 

I'm no expert, but I would check all the fuses. My situation wasn't quite the same, but hey, never know.

 

check your ground and battery positive cable and make sure they are on tight and not corroded.

 

^ this. The cables will actually corrode a good ways down the cable underneath the sheathing over time and may need to be replaced. I'd start with the ground cable

 

AliSC and Vrank you guys are right. Found a short in the ground. All is well now.

Thanks for the help!