ACCCKKKKK....My 98 Lumina is DEAD!

[goatmom]

I just went out to take the kids to the bus, and the stinkin' thing is DEAD...totally DEAD! It was doing some funky things a couple of weeks ago and the lights would dim on their own and the engine seemed to be surging a bit....running slower and then speeding up...lights would dim whenever it slowed down. DH thought it might be the alternator so he replaced it with a new one.

It was still starting hard on really wet days, but was running good the last few days. Drove it yesterday and it started and ran great! This morning I got in and the interior lights seemed normal brightness. Put the key in and turned it...the dash lights literally flashed on and then everything went TOTALLY DEAD.

The kids got to take the long walk (our drive is a 1/4 mile) in the dark to the bus, and I'm now trying to figure out what is going on and whether or not I'm going to make my appointment with the surgeon this morning regarding some medical issues that are going on. I did not need this today!

Does this sound like it is just the battery or something more??? Of course, the freakin' battery is under the washer fluid container so I can't really get to it to check the connections very easily...whose idea was that anyway?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreaciated! Guess I need to go dig my truck out of the barn and drive it today. That 88 Silverado is still the best vehicle we own!

[Kooterskkar]

Sounds to me like a bad fusible link. Theres a few under the hood that supply power to the interior acessories and ignition switch. I cant help much with finding them but im sure there are others here who can.

[goatmom]

Well, I may have overreacted actually. I guess my mind was on my appointment with the surgeon and the upcoming surgery and just what more could possibly go wrong...then the car pulling this stunt!

The truck and I had a nice drive yesterday and I'm sure it enjoyed the exercise. It probably would have appreciated a bath as it was not terribly clean after sitting in the barn for a while, but it drives great and is always dependable...unlike my Lumina.

It turned out to be a dirty connection on the battery cable, but of course I couldn't see that due to the washer fluid being mounted on top of the battery.

I like my truck but hate driving it on snow or ice. It is way too light in the rear end and seems to slide easy. The Lumina does drive good on slick roads, just doesn't have the clearance I need as we live in the country and our road often does not get plowed. I miss my big van so much, but certainly don't miss it when I have to stop at the gas pump! I guess we can't have everything we want in life....

Thanks for your reply. If the problem returns, I will keep that in mind.