Donate!
Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register :: View Members
Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
Car Question (Read 171 times)
rl153
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

S40 Just right!

Posts: 907
Bloomfield,CT
Gender: male
Car Question
05/30/11 at 18:03:25
 
My ignition switch on my car broke while it was running and I couldn't shut the car off . When I got home ,the only thing I could think to do was disconnect the battery ground .The car shut off . Will this damage any of the electronics ? It's an 1988 Buick Century. Thanks
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
buttgoat1
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 1042

Re: Car Question
Reply #1 - 05/30/11 at 18:13:45
 
shouldn't harm anything, but it shouldn't have cut off just by disconnecting the battery cable can run as long as the alternator is charging.  Did you pull any other wires?
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
rl153
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

S40 Just right!

Posts: 907
Bloomfield,CT
Gender: male
Re: Car Question
Reply #2 - 05/30/11 at 18:24:20
 
I think that is true of the positive, is it also true of the negative?
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
justin_o_guy2
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

What happened?

Posts: 55279
East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.
Re: Car Question
Reply #3 - 05/30/11 at 22:00:58
 
Im surprised that shut it off,, otta be able to haul the battery out & walk away with it & the car keep running.
Back to top
 
 

The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke.
  IP Logged
Serowbot
YaBB Moderator
ModSquad
*****
Offline

OK.... so what's the
speed of dark?

Posts: 29288
Tucson Az
Gender: male
Re: Car Question
Reply #4 - 05/30/11 at 22:51:09
 
... it's hammer time!... Grin...
Back to top
 
 

Ludicrous Speed !... ... Huh...
  IP Logged
John_D FSO
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

Ridin' and smilin'

Posts: 1658
Vancouver, WA
Gender: male
Re: Car Question
Reply #5 - 05/30/11 at 23:05:53
 
justin_o_guy2 wrote on 05/30/11 at 22:00:58:
Im surprised that shut it off,, otta be able to haul the battery out & walk away with it & the car keep running.

I know that works on the old ones, because I had a '48 International that the cable used to bounce off.  Luckily it was under the drivers' feet so you just had to reach down and put it on! Cheesy  Not sure about the newer ones though with all that fancy computer stuff. Undecided
Back to top
 
 

'07 ElectraGlide.
  IP Logged
12Bravo
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 628
Mid-Missouri
Gender: male
Re: Car Question
Reply #6 - 05/31/11 at 05:35:52
 
I don't know about cars from the 80's but newer cars with all the on-board computers have to have the battery connected at all times to run. The computer must read/register voltage from the battery even when the vehicle is running.
Back to top
 
 

No Child Should Live In Fear!!!
'Keepers of the children'
http://www.bacaworld.org

  IP Logged
rl153
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

S40 Just right!

Posts: 907
Bloomfield,CT
Gender: male
Re: Car Question
Reply #7 - 05/31/11 at 08:48:38
 
Well ,I was able to reconnect the battery then start it ,then drive to the mechanic. I guess it was a lucky break. Thanks
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
Boofer
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

Nearly too old.

Posts: 1760
N Ms
Gender: male
Re: Car Question
Reply #8 - 05/31/11 at 18:18:18
 
Some cars/trucks will run with cables off. Some won't.
Back to top
 
 

2001 Black, Spitfire windshield, Headlight upgrade, Sissy rack, Tool bag, Fork bag, Harley muffler, Memory foam seat, Crash bars. Hwy pegs, Raptor.
  IP Logged
arteacher
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

Ride as if your
naked and invisable!

Posts: 2581
London ontario
Gender: male
Re: Car Question
Reply #9 - 06/01/11 at 03:44:55
 
I had an '88 Land Cruiser for 15 years. Someone told me it would run well enough to get to a mechanic without the computer working. Never found out if it was true though.
Back to top
 
 

white '07, Raask exh, Corbin seat, slipstreamer shie, Raptor, Routy's fwd controls, Baron tach, Frisco bars, Isogrips, Headlight and taillight modulators, Dial-a- jet, AME 9 deg chop kit, K&N air flt
  IP Logged
buttgoat1
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 1042

Re: Car Question
Reply #10 - 06/02/11 at 09:30:07
 
I think most cars with computers have "limp" mode
a basic default that will make it run, poorly, but running nonetheless
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
rl153
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

S40 Just right!

Posts: 907
Bloomfield,CT
Gender: male
Re: Car Question
Reply #11 - 06/04/11 at 04:49:23
 
FYI, I read in a few places thet removing the battery cables can burn the diodes in the alternator ,and that it's not a good idea to disconnect the battery cable from a running car.
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
Pages: 1
Send Topic Print


« Home

 
« Home
SuzukiSavage.com
05/18/25 at 08:01:45



General CategoryThe Cafe › Car Question


SuzukiSavage.com » Powered by YaBB 2.2!
YaBB © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved.