car loses power on start up and while driving

[martyf250]

noticed this during extremely cold days. worst was this morning. Start up the car and all of sudden the instruments on the dash lose all power and only the battery light and sometimes 4WD light is on. everything else loses all power. While i was driving the car would "limp" it still ran but lost all lights/ dash/ instruments/ and engine would not rev.

Any insight into what it may be?

[smj999smj]

Well, two things come to mind. You didn't mention the year of your Pathy. Was your vehicle involved in the EGI relay recall and was it performed? The other and more likely possibility is that you have a charging system incident, possibly a bad battery or poor battery cable connections or faulty alternator. I would check your charging system voltage, preferably at a time when the problem is occurring. It should be between 13.2-15.0 volts with loads "off" and "on," at idle and at 3000 RPM. It would also be a good idea to have the battery tested and make sure the cable connections to it are clean and tight.

[martyf250]

yes, it had the relay replaced a while back. I will check the battery and clean the terminals. i think autozone and stores like that can test battery and voltage if i'm not mustaken

[disallow]

I just replaced my positive battery clamp due to a similar issue.

[martyf250]

Thanks. mine is a 2005. the battery is maybe 2 years old NAPA. I have replaced both terminals before but will need to look at them again

[JimsPath]

They told me that my battery was getting down. It wouldn't start right off yesterday. Turned the key twice to start it and I noticed that it would occasionally "shunt" on the road, as if it slipped.

Can the battery be disconnected and the posts cleaned?

2012 Pathy.

[smj999smj]

Sure, they can be cleaned. If the connections are good and the battery is on it's way out, it's not going to help, obviously. Most people usually report that they get about 3 years out of the original battery, so being a 2012, it might be time for a new one.