98 Civic electrical issue?

[Lo-Key]

OK so here's the story.
picked up this 98 coupe a few days ago in Staunton, VA and drove it 10 hours back home with not a problem at all. Now when i go to start the car I lose all electrical power and I need to unhook my battery for about 20 minuets to get it back. It also does this when i have the key turned to have all the power on and i hit the brakes, turn the head lights on, or a directional. How ever the hazard lights wont kill it like everything else does. no sounds or anything it just cuts power. I bought a brand new battery and cables and it's still doing it. I replaced the ground from the engine to the radiator support with a thick braided one as well. I looked at the harness and nothing it burned/melted, checked the fuses and all of them are good, no burns in the ecu. any ideas? thanks ahead of time.

 

[AlaskaB16]

That could be just about anything or a couple things. The first thing that stands out to me is the fact that pulling the battery power brings the car back to life which tells me you're resetting the ECU. You said you opened the ECU and nothing looks out of place? What ECU are you using? Chipped? Car completely stock?

 

[Lo-Key]

That could be just about anything or a couple things. The first thing that stands out to me is the fact that pulling the battery power brings the car back to life which tells me you're resetting the ECU. You said you opened the ECU and nothing looks out of place? What ECU are you using? Chipped? Car completely stock?

completely stock. everything looked normal.

 

[AlaskaB16]

It also does this when i have the key turned to have all the power on and i hit the brakes, turn the head lights on, or a directional. How ever the hazard lights wont kill it like everything else does. no sounds or anything it just cuts power.

This part confuses me. So you're saying when the car is running and you hit the brakes or do any of those other things, the car just shuts off? Or do you mean to say when you have the key in ACC and then hit the brakes, the car dies?

 

[Lo-Key]

This part confuses me. So you're saying when the car is running and you hit the brakes or do any of those other things, the car just shuts off? Or do you mean to say when you have the key in ACC and then hit the brakes, the car dies?

when i have the key turned to where all the power is on but the car's not running. if i hit the brake or anything all power gets cut off and I have to unhook the battery for about 20 minuets to get it back. it does the same when i try to start the car. all power gets cut and i have to unhook it for about 20 minuets. only thing i can do when it has power is put the hazard lights on.

 

[lethal6]

Sounds like a bad ground to me. Is the main one that goes to the chassis clean and clear of rust, dirt, and/or paint?

 

[Lo-Key]

Sounds like a bad ground to me. Is the main one that goes to the chassis clean and clear of rust, dirt, and/or paint?

Yeah. Is there another ground I could check?

 

[lethal6]

There are tons of grounds. The ones that I would be concerned with would be the main one going from the BATTERY to the chassis, the one grounding the starter, the one grounding the alternator (if there is one, sometimes it is tied in with another one), and the one that grounds near the ECU. The one going from the valve cover to the radiator support isn't a main ground...I don't think.

Something else that might be checked into would be the ignition switch. I don't know if it is a problem with these or not, but I know I deal with it weekly with Porsche's. The contacts inside go loose and can cause sporadic problems.

 

[Lo-Key]

There are tons of grounds. The ones that I would be concerned with would be the main one going from the BATTERY to the chassis, the one grounding the starter, the one grounding the alternator (if there is one, sometimes it is tied in with another one), and the one that grounds near the ECU. The one going from the valve cover to the radiator support isn't a main ground...I don't think.

Something else that might be checked into would be the ignition switch. I don't know if it is a problem with these or not, but I know I deal with it weekly with Porsche's. The contacts inside go loose and can cause sporadic problems.

I have no idea if it is haha i'm electrically handicap. I'll check the other grounds you mentioned though. I just find it wird that he was fine for the few days i was in VA and the 10 hour ride home only to get this issue and become stuck at my friends house 20 minuets away from mine haha.

 

[Lo-Key]

I got it to hold power so i can play with the lights, windows, locks, ect. now it's just click no start. any ideas?

 

[lethal6]

Still sounds like a bad ground to me. Or the ignition switch is gone/going out.

 

[Lo-Key]

Still sounds like a bad ground to me. Or the ignition switch is gone/going out.

I actually JUST NOW figured it out. its not getting power to it. I just cross jumped it and it started no problem. All i did was put power to the positive and used a screw driver and had someone hold the clutch and it started with no problem. So either my power cable to it is bad or my ignition switch is bad.

 

[I_GOT_BOOST]

so is it the ignition switch sounds like a bad starter and ground issue i would start there if you still have problems also check your main relay its hidden underneath the dash to the left upward side of the clutch pedal