Dead until hood is popped

Jesusjones1024

Jesusjones1024

Member
Location
Seattle
Car
2003 FX35 RWD
Name
Ross
Hey all, weird issue and need some expertise.

Twice now, I've went to start up my car in the morning and it's dead. I mean "no battery" dead (no dash lights, keyless entry). But both times, as soon a I pop the hood the car comes alive! The radio presets are also reset each time.

Then two nights go, all my lights flickered, then went off mid drive. Flipped stalk multiple times, nothing. Then as soon as I get home, all lights came on.

Last night, same thing happened to left blinker (right blinker worked). But popped hood, and blinker started working??

All the fuses are good, and I don't see any wires being pinched by the hood (or front tower brace). There's no wires inside the hood's insulation/soundboard are there?
Engine ground wires maybe?

I ordered a power & ground distribution block (link) to rewire all my halos/leds/fog lights. But the hood popping as the cure perplexes me.

Any input helps folks!
 
Last edited:
+1 to checking loose battery cables.
If too loose and can't go tighter, you may need a battery terminal shim.
... Or maybe it's time for a new battery.
 
Could just be the jolt from the hood popping moved a loose cable. There aren't any wires in the hood I'm aware of. Think there is a sensor up front to alert you if the hood is open. But I don't think that sensor draws enough power to short anything out. Check for loose battery cables as others are saying. When my positive cable was loose, closing the door fixed it once.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, I checked the battery cables and they weren't loose, but still had room to be tightened. So I'll see how that works. Based on some other research on flickering lights, my light stalk contacts might need cleaning and may be causing a short. I have some work to do this weekend cause the no lights thing freaked me out.


"closing the door fixed it once"
^weird feeling right??
 
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