Automotive Forums  Where Car Enthusiasts Go to Discuss Cars Online

Hello,

I did some searching on the forums and couldn't find scenarios that matched all my symptoms so I thought I would post my troubles and benefit from your collective knowledge

Car - 2000 Ford Mustang Coupe, Manual Transmission

Issues:
Car shuts off while driving on occasion but typically immediately restarts
All gauges reset on occasion while driving
New(ish) battery not fully recharging
Clock and radio stations reset after car shuts off (not when I shut it off)
I turned on my air conditioner and it shut the car off (once)

Latest Symptom:
Battery tested low charge a couple days ago
This morning the engine would not turn over and the interior lights and such would not function.

Other:
I've never noticed dimmed headlights or interior lights while driving the car.
No 'Service Engine Soon' light or any other indicator lights denote issue.
Battery is less than a year old.
I do not have the technical tools or knowledge to test electric current/charge.

Thank you for your thoughts on this matter, I appreciate the help.  

not easy to get to...  but make sure the wiring harness plug that goes into the electric part of the ignition switch is plugged in... all the way...  there is a screw in the middle of the connector that holds it in place... make sure it's tight..  

you might also have a bad ignition switch..  it has happened in the past...  cars shutting off when one side of the contacts inside the ignition switch burn away from normal use..  

i am talking about the electrical part of the ignition switch...   not the lock and key..   but farther down the column..

there may also be a loose connection somewhere else in the car... start with the switch.... part number LS615 at autozone..

there are instructions on how to change it at autozone.com      in their repair info online...  and its free...   REPAIR INFO,  2000 FORD MUSTANG 3.8L SFI 6CYL, REPAIR GUIDE,  CHASSIS ELECTRICAL,   INSTRUMENTS & SWITCHES,   IGNITION SWITCH  

Thanks, I just registered with autozone and I'm looking at the exploded view now.  Would this also cause the battery drain or do you think that is a separate issue?  

i would check the charging system with a digital volt meter...     digital volt meters start at about 5 bucks.. and you never need to spend more than 25 on one... unless you need advanced functions...

14.1 volts or more with the engine running... shows that the alternator is working properly...  

when a battery drains with the ignition off it is cause by a parasitic voltage draw. In order to check for this you need a multimeter with an amperage function. with the ignition and the multimeter set to dc amps disconnect the positive terminal of the battery, connect the leads of the multimeter one to the positive terminal of the battery and the other to the connecter. If you read anything higher then 50millivolts then you have a parasitic voltage draw and that is causing the battery to drain. To track it down simply repeat the process on individual circuits until you discover the cause.