[MissSamanthaPrado]

So I left my lights on all night and drained my battery completely. I had to replace it because the cell went bad.

I hooked up my new battery yet my car will not start. Nothing comes on in the car not even cranking or the radio... but my headlights work.

I replaced the terminals yet it did nothing.

All of the fuses seem fine.

The battery is not grounding. I dont know what caused this problem just by draining my battery completely.

Also, when it did my gear shift locked but I pushed the button to release it.

Any ideas? Its not the starter, or altinator.

93 Ford Escort

 

[pcordes1979]

I would check the underhood fuses first. The headlights are not run through the main fuse but the ignition switch is. I came across a similar issue on the donor car that I pulled the power window setup from. The headlights worked but it got no power going through the ignition switch. I had to find a car with a good main fuse it in in order to power up the car to get the window mechanisms out. It was surprisingly hard to find a good fuse in the yard I was in as most cars had the fuses all pulled out in but I did eventually find one. If its the main fuse thats bad you will need to use a socket wrench to get it out as its bolted in place. - Peter

 

[MissSamanthaPrado]

I would check the underhood fuses first. The headlights are not run through the main fuse but the ignition switch is. I came across a similar issue on the donor car that I pulled the power window setup from. The headlights worked but it got no power going through the ignition switch. I had to find a car with a good main fuse it in in order to power up the car to get the window mechanisms out. It was surprisingly hard to find a good fuse in the yard I was in as most cars had the fuses all pulled out in but I did eventually find one. If its the main fuse thats bad you will need to use a socket wrench to get it out as its bolted in place. - Peter

Of all the research I'm doing I'm kind of wondering about the Ignition Switch itself you know?

 

[zzyzzx]

I was expecting this thread to be about how slow Escorts are!