Okay, got a 1982 Berlinetta with the 2.8L. Ok, here's what happens. I put the key in the car, and turn it to the "on" position, and I have power, right? Well, when I try to crank her up, it goes dead. The weird part is, if I pop the hood, and shut it sorta hard, I have power again, but if I try to crank it again, it shorts out. What the fork is causing this? Bad connection on the battery?

Any help would be appreciated, I need to get it cranking again soon. Thanks in advance!

 

same thing happened to me about two weeks ago. you definitely have a short somewhere. mine turned out to be a wire running under the headers that melted. just take a look around the engine bay for any suspect electrical work or frayed or melted wires.

 

I would definitely hose around looking for loose/damaged wires. Check battery connections are clean and tight. Also make sure all the grounds are clean and tight. Then I would go straight to the starter. Can you turn the car over by shorting the starter soleniod? Does it engage then nothing? Maybe stick then release? I would bet the starter/solenoid is bad.

 

My dad has an old nissan sentra that did this. It ended up being a bad ground cable. Sometimes we would have to get in it and slam the doors a few times to get it going.

Something to check.

 

Yup, a bad connection at one end or the other of a battery cable; more likely, at the battery itself.

Take the cables off, clean the connectors and the battery terminals with a wire brush and some warm water and baking soda, and see if that helps.

 

Yep, it was the positive terminal. Starts right up now. Thanks!

 

Well it seems I spoke too soon. I tried to start it up today, and it just clicked. I tried again a few more times and it made the infamous "battery is outta juice" noise with the starter. Is this the fault of the solenoid? I just bought a new battery on Friday, so I doubt the battery is at fault, or is something draining it overtime?

 

double check all connections / grounds. Emphasis on grounds. A Chiltons should have a detailed chart of this.

 

A new battery could and will get thrashed with loose/bad connections causing it to get drained and not charged properly. As stated above, check all connections!! Grounds included, battery to fender, battery to motor, rear motor to firewall. Also get under the car and inspect the starter and all its connections, clean and tight. Charge the battery. I would also drive to the local AutoZone and have all that electrical stuff tested, they can test most of it in the car.