headlights causing car to shut off

ratchet · Post by **ratchet** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:36 am

Got into my car this morning, I went to turn on my headlights and my car shut off. It happend twice this morning. When I switch from parking to headlights it shuts off the car. I can restart the car with no issue. I noticed that before this happend that when I would turn my high beams on that they would flicker, really bad to where I could not use them. My fog light switch is also giving me an issue. When I have the switch out, my fog lights are on, but sometimes they would go off for no reason and I would have to "wiggle" the switch to get it to come on.

Sounds like I have to replace the whole assembely? Sound about right?

Dave

excon · Post by **excon** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:19 am

check your grounds, and fuses. For fun, have the battery and alternator tested.

ratchet · Post by **ratchet** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:32 am

last week the car started and then I went to put it into gear and the car died. Well I poped the hood and thge neg terminal on the battery was white, it was covered. I cleaned it up and it started right up. I had the same issue with my 95 when I had it, so it might be a ground or a fuse

Moparty08 · Post by **Moparty08** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:33 am

Definitely check all your wires and everything. I had the same problem. When i would have my brights on and put on the rear defrost my car would just completely die.

ratchet · Post by **ratchet** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:23 pm

ok did a test

with the car off, nothing on - 12.43volts

with the car running with all the bells on it was about 15.1 volts

now the manual says anything above 14.7 is a bad voltage regulator which is inside the alternator, so this means the alt is bad??? Am I reading this right?

NeonOn19s · Post by **NeonOn19s** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:57 pm

ratchet · Post by **ratchet** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:38 pm

ok went to autozone to have them check out the charging system, everything was ok. So I picked up the "gold duralast cables" how the hell do I wire these things, lmao!

Dave

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:03 pm

The voltage regulator is in the PCM, and while the voltage is a tad high it is not out of the realm of what is possible. A bad battery can let the voltage go too high. If it goes over 16 volts then the battery is prolly toast.
Our GM van at work runs at 15 volts, and I had a VW Dasher that ran at 15.5 volts, so it is possible. Makes for some nice light out put. The PCM may not like it tho. The bad connections can also contribute to the higher voltage.

ratchet · Post by **ratchet** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:20 am

cool, im going to replace the bcables today and see what I get. Thanks for your help guys!

Dave