# No Power After Shutting off engine **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 3, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-power-after-shutting-off-engine/36080 "2009-09-03T20:20:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zeppssgtr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d07c76/32.png) [@zeppssgtr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zeppssgtr)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-power-after-shutting-off-engine/36080/1 "2009-09-03T20:20:51Z")
I have a 97 Ford Aerostar that has ran great up until last night. It wouldnt start. I thought it was a dead battery. I jump started it, and it ran fine until i got home. As soon as i turn the engine off, i lose ALL power, even door locks. Like im not even connected to the battery any more? ---
**Author:** ![zeppssgtr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d07c76/32.png) [@zeppssgtr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zeppssgtr)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-power-after-shutting-off-engine/36080/2 "2009-09-03T22:25:08Z")
Anyone? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-power-after-shutting-off-engine/36080/3 "2009-09-03T22:37:57Z")
The first thing to check are the basics. Slap a voltmeter on the battery to see if it has any charge. (You can get cheap ones if you don’t have one or ask around - someone you know probably does). Check that the battery terminals are clean and tight. Start tracing out the battery cables and checking all of the connections, especially the grounds. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-power-after-shutting-off-engine/36080/4 "2009-09-03T23:37:42Z")
How old is the battery? If the battery was too weak to start the van yesterday, but you jump started it and drove it, the battery may now be dead. I suggest checking the connections to the battery, the starter, and the ground connection. I also suggest having someone “load test” the battery. Even if the battery shows 13 or 14 volts it may have enough amperage to turn the engine. ---
**Author:** ![zeppssgtr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d07c76/32.png) [@zeppssgtr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/zeppssgtr)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-power-after-shutting-off-engine/36080/5 "2009-09-04T16:56:33Z")
Ill check it in a few. It just didnt seem right that right when i turned the car off, all power was imediatly lost. Not even enough to lock the doors. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-power-after-shutting-off-engine/36080/6 "2009-09-04T19:15:29Z")
Many times I’ve seen batteries fail suddenly and completely. Likely an internal connecting bar has cracked. ---
**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-power-after-shutting-off-engine/36080/7 "2009-09-05T00:33:46Z")
You probably aren’t connected to the battery anymore, bad connection. Or the battery is dead.