Help!! Major electrical failure

[caicapclass]

So I'm going 75 in the rain at midnight on the interstate in my '94 Caprice Classic when, without warning, everything goes black. No lights, no hazards, no nothing. Dead as a doornail.

I get to the shoulder, open the hood, check the battery cable (which was fine), and suddenly the headlights come back on. I get in the car, start her up, and everything dies again. the lights come on, then die a few more times before I turn them off and start walking.

Any ideas as to what is going on? I have noticed the electricals "wink" after the car's been running for about a minute, then the ABS light comes on and stays on. Could there be a connection?

There was also a light "buzzing" coming from the steering column, which stopped when I turnedoff the inoperative hazard lights.

Of course this could have been a lot worse, but I'm perplexed as to what's going on.

Any ideas would be greatlyappreciated.

Chris

[burnM]

I think you've found the problem already. Check the power cable again. Also check the wires from the starter. I had the same thing happen to me on an old Lemans. The wires from the starter broke inside the sheathing.

[caicapclass]

Originally Posted by burnM

I think you've found the problem already. Check the power cable again. Also check the wires from the starter. I had the same thing happen to me on an old Lemans. The wires from the starter broke inside the sheathing.

Thanks. The garage I was towed to said the connection was bad, and battery wouldn't hold charge. So the new battery got me about 120 miles, with the voltmeter dropping all the way. Parked here, tried to start 3 hours later, and now the new battery is dead.

I'll check the electric lines and see what I can find.

Thanks again!

Chris

[ladymech62]

You have a HUGE power drain (read: short). Double check the fusable links to the starter; one may be bare due to being against the exhaust. Don't get too carried away but try to stretch the wire - if it stretches the wire is broke inside and you can splice another one in. If it is grounded to the frame, this can drain a car PDQ . . .

[chiknstik]

The 1994 Caprice Classic & wagon have a serious electrical problem. (I have a 94, and I've done the repair I'm about to explain.) There's GM TSB (Technical Service Bullitin) on this problem. #94-C-59 The Aux positive connection stud at the underhood (passenger side) fuse box was originally made of aluminum. Sometime about the early 70s home electricians found out that aluminum and high current equal fire. GM found out about mid 1995, when some of these cars caught fire. The problem is that the main cable from the battery positive to that fuse box, which carries all the car's power except what goes directly to the starter, gets loose. Loose equals hot. If yours just went dark (like mine did) count your blessings. But, I'll bet that stud, and some of its plastic mountings, have melted. Tightening it up won't fix the problem. I fooled with it for nearly a year, before I went to the dealer and bought a new $10.00 stud. Part #12161130 and a new nut, part # 11516161. Its a fairly easy install, but you do have to take the fuse box apart.
Do a google search for that TSB # and you'll find the whole thing with diagrams, etc.
Good luck!

[kenwood guy]

good thing mine is a 91