Hello All my car recently crapped out on me, and i have no clue why. Maybe someone here can help me.

The other night I was driving, And i was about to turn into the gas station. My fuel gauge is off, so i was gonna some gas just in case. A few seconds away, EVERYTHING in my car cuts off. My engine, radio, headlights, interior lights everything. So then my steering wheel locks up and i gotta fight the rest of the way to get it into the gas station. Haha while it was rolling, i missed the pump, and i turned the key to back up, and it started back up. I fill up and i put 11.5 gallons, so i reckon i was close to running out. And after i fill up, the car takes a long time to start back up.

A few seconds of me turning the key and it not starting. Finally it starts, and my car roars back like nothing happened, and I proceed with my night.

Then the following night (it was wet outside if it matters), i start my car, and it starts a lil slower than i like, but nothing big, used to immediate starting. So the engine is running and i start doing my usual things, like putting my radio face in, buckling up and all. And I go to cut the lights on and pull the headlight switch.

And once again everything cuts off. Similar to before, but I keep trying to start it, and i hear nothing, no lights, no guages are lit. I did see power to my cigarette lighter as my car charger has an led light on it. And the light only came on when the keys were not turned in the ignition, the headlight switch was off and the door was closed.

I walked of later and came back and all my interior lights came back on, and when i pulled the headlight switch again, it all crapped out again. And no fuses were blown either.

Can anyone help me, or point me in some direction? Any opinions are greatly appreciated!!!!!

 

It sounds like a battery that's going bad.I had a similar problem that would come and go.My problem was one of the plates in the battery had vibrated loose,this would float around contact another plate and the battery would go dead.Autozone will check/test your battery for free.Then it could be something as minor as a loose or bad battery cable.

 

Battery. Always replace alternator and battery together- they tend to wear the other down when one goes bad.

 

Defiantely sounds like a lose wire or a lose plate in the battery

 

Lose wire in or to waht? Today I drove it and it was fine... So ionno...but i'm still worried... I know w/e is wrong is not fixed, lol. What is the best thing to look for. Went to autozone, they checked battery and charging system, and everything is fine...

 

Just fyi, it was a very loose battery cable. it had done it by hand. After i went and did it correctly, the problem stopped happening...

 

good to hear you fixed it w/ out replacing 100$ + items. i had the exact same problem, every time id floor it, it would die and the cable would get back into position and it would roar back up...it was annoying...took me 3 mins and a 5/8" wrench to tighten the nut on the starter holding the wire on.

 

hmm, i had the same problem tonight, or very similar. I was driving, noticed that my check engine light came on a few times, i thought i blew a belt. But the light went out and i kept driving. It did this like 2 or 3 times before it finally went and died when i attempted to make a right turn at the intersection. Lost all power, pulled er over and not even the clock would tick, no power whatsoever. I finnaly got power after a few minutes and was able to drive it home, where it then died again while messing with the light switch.

In the summer, i had to work on the starter and the fuseable links, im thinking perhaps im havin more probs with them? I had my alternator tested, the mechanic said it was fine, i cannot remember if they tested the battery, this was done while the car was running.

I made a thread a while back about something else that i think may be related. Whenever i turned the headlights on, on an especially cold night, my 4 way bulbs on the dash light up, the high beam indicator comes on and my guages zero out. If i kick the panel under the dash, then this problem disappears. I should mention that I've not had any problems until i turn the headlights on. {Incidentally my high beam indicator doesn't come on now when the highs are turned on)

I know this is a long post, but another issue. Whenever i turn the rear defrost on, i get a huge decrease on the amps guage, not the normal small drop, but almost near the red line. Is my electrical system pooched? LOL

I suspect the headlight switch as its sitting in there pretty loosely, but i dunno if a screwy switch would cause so many problems.

 

2 dope - you got some major problems there. Looks like you need to start going through the wiring. Maybe something is grounding out.

 

well i messed around with it today. Turned the headlights on, of course the 4 way bulbs came on, the ones on the cluster, gauges zeroed out etc. Jiggled around the headlight switch and the car died. I'm leaning towards this being the culprit. How difficult is it to change the switch? Also, can a bad switch cause the whole car to lose power?

 

Well... the head light switch in my 89 IROC took a bit. You will need to remove the entire gauge cluster including removing the speedo cable. You then need to pull the headlight switch out to the on position. Now remove the the beazel for the headlight switch and then you need to use a long screw to take the **** out. There is a button on the bottom side of the headlight switch, you need to press that upwards to release the ****. After that you are good to go.

Unless someone knows an easier way.

 

nope no easier way it is a pain

 

Maybe somebody could help me with my problem, my car wont turn on and im not sure what it could be, it has my dad and i both scratching our heads along with a GM mechanic from the 80's.


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