9deuce9rr
03-09-2010, 02:12 PM
The Cliff notes:
Chevelle wasn’t getting any power at all (starter,head/tail lights, dash lights, etc). Replaced ignition switch and everything worked perfectly. Drove around for about an hour, then the CEL flashed real quick (like when you first turn your key to the accessories position) and then died immediately. Did this twice more and now it is back to not getting any power at all, so I had to have it towed home :-/
Any Ideas?
Full Story:
The car has randomly died on me twice in the past, which was 2 out of the last 3 times I drove it. Second time it happened in the driveway so we pushed it into the garage.
When I came back to my parent’s house this past weekend to drive it, we replaced the old battery because it wouldn’t hold a charge. However, when trying to start the car, I would turn the key: Nothing! No click, no lights, no everything electronic.
After running through all the wiring (visual inspection since I forgot my voltmeter at my place), I didn’t’ find anything. I pulled out the ignition switch and while using a screw driver to pry the connector off the back of it, I inadvertently touched two terminals simultaneously, which caused my air compressor to kick on. This led me to believe the ignition switch had pooped out on me.
Ran to the store, picked up a new one, installed it, and everything ran perfect!
After ~1hr of driving, the check engine light flashed at me and the car immediately died. Threw it in Neutral, coasted to the shoulder and did a quick run through of all fluids (except the radiator, obviously, but checked this before leaving and levels were fine). Everything was full, and looked good. Sat around for 5 min to let it cool down just in case, started it back up and drove maybe 500 yds and it happened again, same thing. This time, after sitting around about 20 min, it started again, but died before I could get it in Drive.
I sat around for about half an hour, started it again, made it another half mile or so (the house was about 2 miles away), and it died again. THIS TIME, the power cut out like it was before. I was back to having no signal to the starter, no lights, external or internal. I grabbed one of my keys (with a plastic head) and tried contacting the two terminals together that I had before….. nada. So I called AAA and had it towed back to the garage, and I had to head out to get back to my place so I didn’t have any more time to play around with it, to try to figure out what it was.
Chevelle wasn’t getting any power at all (starter,head/tail lights, dash lights, etc). Replaced ignition switch and everything worked perfectly. Drove around for about an hour, then the CEL flashed real quick (like when you first turn your key to the accessories position) and then died immediately. Did this twice more and now it is back to not getting any power at all, so I had to have it towed home :-/
Any Ideas?
Full Story:
The car has randomly died on me twice in the past, which was 2 out of the last 3 times I drove it. Second time it happened in the driveway so we pushed it into the garage.
When I came back to my parent’s house this past weekend to drive it, we replaced the old battery because it wouldn’t hold a charge. However, when trying to start the car, I would turn the key: Nothing! No click, no lights, no everything electronic.
After running through all the wiring (visual inspection since I forgot my voltmeter at my place), I didn’t’ find anything. I pulled out the ignition switch and while using a screw driver to pry the connector off the back of it, I inadvertently touched two terminals simultaneously, which caused my air compressor to kick on. This led me to believe the ignition switch had pooped out on me.
Ran to the store, picked up a new one, installed it, and everything ran perfect!
After ~1hr of driving, the check engine light flashed at me and the car immediately died. Threw it in Neutral, coasted to the shoulder and did a quick run through of all fluids (except the radiator, obviously, but checked this before leaving and levels were fine). Everything was full, and looked good. Sat around for 5 min to let it cool down just in case, started it back up and drove maybe 500 yds and it happened again, same thing. This time, after sitting around about 20 min, it started again, but died before I could get it in Drive.
I sat around for about half an hour, started it again, made it another half mile or so (the house was about 2 miles away), and it died again. THIS TIME, the power cut out like it was before. I was back to having no signal to the starter, no lights, external or internal. I grabbed one of my keys (with a plastic head) and tried contacting the two terminals together that I had before….. nada. So I called AAA and had it towed back to the garage, and I had to head out to get back to my place so I didn’t have any more time to play around with it, to try to figure out what it was.