This morning when i was going to work, my headlights and radio cut in a out several times. I also noticed my volotage dropping when the car was at idle. I was worried all day that my car wouldn't start thinking it was the alternator. well after working an 8 hr day my car started right up and I drove to Discount auto to have my alternator tested. The alt tested fine and so did my battery. But now I have no headlights, radio, dome light, or power door locks. But I do have taillights, turn signals, power windows and my car starts fine.When I started and ran the car this afternoon the voltage wasn't dropping but a few tenths of a volt. I checked all the fuses i could find in the engine well and in the fuse box, I also checked the connections to the alternator. Any ideas before i shell out 70+ bucks to a mechanic???


thanks guys

Gol10dr

 

I wouldn't trust the auto parts store tests. I took the battery out of my brother's car cause it cut out while I was installing his stereo. They told me it was fine, so I took it home and put it back in the car. I let the engine run for a while to recharge the battery, which it didn't do. So I take it back, to get charged. Then they tell me the batt's dead and won't hold a charge.

If you have a volt meter, you can test both the alternator and battery yourself. Just check what the voltage is with the car off. It should be right around 12 volts. Then start the car and check the voltage at the battery again. It should be around 13 or so. Really all that matters is that it's higher than it was when the car was off.

 

another weird thing the flashers work...

could it be the head light on and off pull thing? If so what do I need to ge to fix it..

right now I ghetto rigged it by running power and negative to fog light switch so I have headlights at least....

any suggestions?

also how much do you think a header install would cost me? 100, 200?

 

The thing is, your missing things from a few different circuits. The radio and dome light will be on the accessories circuit, but the headlights won't. And I don't think that a bad dimmer switch would cause the accessories to go out too. Did you check for the smaller wire that comes off the + battery connector? Also look at that little distribution block by the batt for loose connections.

 

I got a similar problem. All the things he mentioned that don't work only work in my car when the key is in run or accessory.

 

Fuse problem?

 

Man check your fuse box out !!!!!!
Do not do what i did and go into a shop
and end up paying a crazy hours fee for
like 5 min wrth of work

 

The first thing i checked was the fuse box... I'm still leaning towards a short in my headlight switch so I am going to check that out then go from there

 

Did you check all the wires on the back of the fuse block? One had come disconnected on my brother's car and was cause the interior lights to not work.