Tried to start 96 XJ this morning, got the buzz from not having my seatbelt plugged in, then nothing; no power, no cabin lights, no buzz. This has happened before a month or so ago, but when I popped the hood the buzzer started again and I could start the car. Haven't had a repeat issue since until today.

Today though, even with the hood up, it won't start. I get cabin lights, the buzzer, but when I try and turn it over everything goes off and this time, stays off until I waggle the battery cables. That gives me the cabin lights again, and I still have power when I turn the key, but when I turn it to start, it all goes dead once again and I have to repeat the process.

To me this sounds like bad cables or a bad connection, but I'm neither an electrician nor a mechanic and I'd like either confirmation or alternative theories before I start messing around.

Any thoughts?

 

Got a multimeter? Check the battery volts at the posts and cable ends. How old is the battery? Start disassembling and cleaning connections from the battery on out till you find the problem.

Occasionally you can break a battery post, that obviously needs a new battery.

 

Start disassembling and cleaning connections from the battery on out till you find the problem.

 

Bad cables or connections sounds very likely. The easiest things to do are check the battery clamps for any corrosion, the colour of any visible copper and to clean up the main grounding points, battery to body and battery to engine.


Dave beat me to it.

 

Took the battery out and the connectors off the cables at the battery end, gave them a quick going over with sand paper, and put it back together again and it all seems to work now - fired up first time, drove round the block a few times with no issues.

There wasn't really any visible corrosion or oxidisation though, so I'm wondering if maybe something is loose somewhere?

The limits of my mechanical and electrical knowledge aren't that great, so I'll ask for my father-in-law to have a look with me before I start driving anywhere I can't walk home from!

Thanks for the help, everyone!