no power at all even with good battery

[fixdebscar]

I got my car back from a timing belt and water pump replacement. When I tried to start the car at my house nothing would work. The lights wouldn't come on and the starter wouldn't click. The strange thing is that SOMETIMES the lights and the door buzzer work, but the car still doesn't turn over. Sometimes when the door buzzer and the lights come on, I can get one click out of the starter, but other times nothing works at all. Does this sound like a bad ground or power wire? I had the battery checked and I also cleaned the battery terminals and that hasn't helped. I also checked all the fuses and they are fine. It happened as soon as I got home from the shop. I work all this weekend, so Sunday I am going to take the voltmeter to it but I would gladly take any help or ideas of what to look for. Thanks in advance.

 

[GTM]

I got my car back from a timing belt and water pump replacement.
...
I am going to take the voltmeter to it but I would gladly take any help or ideas of what to look for. Thanks in advance.

It sounds like the battery is dead and/or the alternator not charging or a poor ground. You can jump from another car or try charging the battery. Check the battery terminals, check the grounds, check the mains fuses. Check the B+ (large wire) on the back of the alternator, must be hot at all times. Do check the belts, might have not been properly tightened.

How long was it in the shop with the timing belt repair? You might want to call them and let them know this happened and ask what they would like to do about it. Nobody likes to spend that kind of money only to have this happen for it may just be sloppy work.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[fixdebscar]

Just tried to jump it and I got nothing. The terminals are really clean, so I going to check the fuses again when there is more light. Thanks for the help!!!!!

 

[GTM]

Just tried to jump it and I got nothing. The terminals are really clean, so I going to check the fuses again when there is more light. Thanks for the help!!!!!

Drat, that was the easy test which didn't net positive results. A test light is much faster for checking fuses and continuity.

Hopefully the fuse(s) will prove to be the problem, after that you have relay(s) which may have failed. It's ironic that it happened after some significant repairs were done under the hood. I can't immediately identify why this might happen unless they disabled the starter, removed the battery cable, fuse, relay etc.

There are small grounds from the engine to the body which must exist including one on the engine mount they had to remove for the timing belt. If they didn't tighten this and were lucky when it started the drive home shook it loose.

I'm here, you are there so you will have to do the detective work.

Cheers,
GTM