# Intermittent total loss of power - fixable by slamming hood

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-total-loss-of-power-fixable-by-slamming-hood/55511>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** intermittent, chrysler, electrical-wiring, sebring\
**Created:** [September 24, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-total-loss-of-power-fixable-by-slamming-hood/55511 "2010-09-24T13:35:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jerrymaynor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@jerrymaynor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jerrymaynor)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-total-loss-of-power-fixable-by-slamming-hood/55511/1 "2010-09-24T13:35:08Z")

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I have a '99 Sebring jxi convertible with about 150K miles on it. Starting about a year ago, every 6 to 8 weeks when I got into the car there was no power (as in no battery). I would fiddle randomly under the hood, close it, and the car would start.  
  
  
  
 In the last year this has started happening more and more often - now (if my wife is driving) up to twice a week and has happened a few times when at a Stop sign.  
  
  
  
 I can now reliable fix it by just opening and closing the hood but it IS rather annoying to have to do that in traffic.  
  
  
  
 Any clues?

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-total-loss-of-power-fixable-by-slamming-hood/55511/2 "2010-09-24T13:42:29Z")

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You have a loose electrical connection. Start by removing, inspecting, and cleaning the battery cables.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-total-loss-of-power-fixable-by-slamming-hood/55511/3 "2010-09-24T18:55:26Z")

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Start by removing, inspecting, and cleaning the battery cables.

```
Do both ends of the cables.
```

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-total-loss-of-power-fixable-by-slamming-hood/55511/4 "2010-09-25T14:41:09Z")

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Would you feel better if slamming the hood did not make the car driveable again? Do you feel that since the car works after a hood slam the problem should be easier to find or harder too find?

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**Author:** ![jerrymaynor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@jerrymaynor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jerrymaynor)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-total-loss-of-power-fixable-by-slamming-hood/55511/5 "2010-10-08T19:38:13Z")

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I guess the problem is in the intermittent nature - if it just died then at least I could trace the power to where it stopped. I can’t seem to reproduce the error when I can troubleshoot it (10 am on Saturday morning would be nice). I can’t force myself not to “fix it” since it usually happens sometime and somewhere where I can’t take the time to troubleshoot it.