Starts rough

[jking3002]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forums, and need all the help I can get with this one!

I have a 1991 pontic firebird coupe, and I'm having a few problems.

1st- The car starts right up, but then the engine and electrical basically rev and then lose power over and over. The car will not accelerate properly, and the headlights will grow bright then dim. This will happen for about 30 seconds after a cold start and then all will return to normal, with a huge surge of power to the engine if it is being driven, and not just run at idle.

2nd- When interior lights are turned on in the firebird the exterior flip-up lights (headlights) should turn on as well, correct? In my car they do not, and the only way i can get the exterior lights to turn on is by using the brights. Am I simply missing out on how to turn on the lights (if so, man I feel dumb, could someone tell me where they are because I have no owners manual). Or, if not, what could be the cause of this (the brights working, but not the standard headlights)?

Thanks guys, I'm really new to the forums, and to the 3rd gen birds in general.

[izzydjinn]

welcome bro. from what ive read, looks like you are dealing with a short circuit, probably around the main wire harness, you know, inside the console. Also dont forget to use the process of elimination. Check your fuse box, make sure the right voltage, and all that. well good luck.

[wrightz28]

Give your battery cable a once over making sure they are snug, clean and break free.

As for the lights, you have a push button switch right? There;s the smaller portion of the switch which is run lights only (w/ instrument panel lighting, and a larger section that activates the head lamps/run lights/& IP. Perhaps the switch is broken and not activating this function

Oh and welcome to the mad house

[jking3002]

Yes, I do have the push button switch. The outside portion of the switch (black portion) activates the interior lights, however the gray portion will only turn on the brights... and I can see no way to get the headlights to come on except for using the gray portion and turning on the brights. Of course this is annoying to other drivers, not to mention kind of dangerous.

[wrightz28]

The grey portion is to switch on normal head lights. so, the high beam indicator is lit on the dash? and I assume you tried the dimmer switch to no result?