I drive a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS and sometimes when i compress the clutch and turn the key to start it. all the lights and everything in my car shut off and it doesnt turn over at all like the battery has been disconnected. could it be a bad battery or a bad connection?

 

Hi Matthew,

This is a Camaro and Firebird site but, as long as you are here, it sounds like your battery has gone bad. Once you turn the key, the starter motor is connected to the battery so that it can spin the engine to get it started. It is a much, much bigger electric load on the battery than anything else in the car. If the battery is weak, the starter motor will drag the battery (and car) voltage down to near zero. That's why when you turn the key everything shuts off.

 

thing is, nothing turns over its a instant like shut off of everything electrical. engine doesnt even starrt

 

i can get out reposition the ground connection and everything comes on but then its just repeats it

 

The terminal connections are loose. Replace the cable terminals and correctly tighten them. You should not be able to reposition the terminal. This means it's loose.

GD