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Loose battery terminal caused odd dysfunction w/89 Cressida - what am I seeing?

Got in my '89 Cressida and noticed the power windows weren't working. All out at the same time.

Checked various fuses, found none that looked burned out. Then I noticed another issue - the power door locks worked to lock, but not to unlock. The driver door and I assume the passenger door could be manually unlocked of course but didn't trigger the others to unlock as is normal operation.

Then I noticed the clock was wrong, which only happens if the power if interrupted. So, I checked the battery terminals and found apparently I'd neglected to cinch one down and tighten it when last needing to disconnect. It was on but with a loose fit. Re-seating and tightening made all the above issues disappear.

So what did I witness? If there was enough connection to run the car, why would some of the accessories behave oddly or be non-functional as described?

Thanks

Reply to
muzician21
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Low amps due to the loose connection. 20 ways to ground (the post on the battery). Some longer than others. So one circuit might just make it (unlocking) but another just not (locking). Windows take the most amps so they go out first.

Even if your battery is dying, you'll see things like hard starting, sure. But you'll also notice your windows having trouble. Like up first, then up and down.

Reply to
Gary L. Burnore

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