All Power Dies When Key Goes To Crank Position

[Mstng93SSP]

1991 mustang 5.0, when I turn the key to the on position I have full power, lights work, fan blower works, door locks, Windows etc. When I turn the key to the crank position everything goes dead. The only way to get power back is unhook the battery and hook it back up. Then the same thing happens. Have power until I try to crank the car. Yesterday the starter was not engaging the first two or three cranks, it would just "whirrrr" but then it finally started I will take the starter to get it tested but would a bad starter cause this? This issue just started today. The car was starting just fine before. Thanks

Chris

 

[a91what]

Unrelated issues. Most likely a bad ignition switch.

 

[mikestang63]

^ this- check the ignition switch that is located under the column. They are prone to breaking/overheating and causing this type of problem.

 

[Mstng93SSP]

I thought about the switch, but the odd thing is it kills all power. And then there is no power to anything unless you "re-set" it by removing the positive battery terminalienable and then put it back on. A bad switch would not do that would it? I am thinking the starter might be shorting out internally.

 

[mikestang63]

When you disconnect the battery, the switch goes back to the off position. When you turn the switch, it is most likely shorting out. If the starter was shorting out, you'd either see smoke, or a huge drop in voltage imo

 

[Mstng93SSP]

Ok. Thanks. Luckily my column is currently apart so I can get to the switch easily.

 

[Mstng93SSP]

I changed my old, frayed, crap looking positive battery cable and it fired right up. Hope that was it .

 

[91TwighlightGT]

I was going recommend battery cables. Your symptoms are typical of that, and you fiddling with the battery often causes the cable to make a better connection, which is why disconnecting and reconnecting seems to temporarily fix the problem. The load of engaging the starter is high, so whenever the car loses power on cranking the first thing to check is battery connections and cables.