electrical problem help. car won't stay running, etc.

[skotman]

Today when i started my car it killed immediately. it revved past 1500rpms but instantly killed as if the power had been turned off.

it did this over and over and over until it finally started. i was able to drive it down the highway before i noticed that my wipers were moving VERY slowly, and my clock was fading in and out. needless to say i turned around immediately and borrowed mom's car for school.

i returned home to the same symptoms.
the past week the car has been running fine except, there has been about a one second delay between when i turn the key and the starter actually starts the engine. this is unusual because it's usually instantaneous. it almost seemed like the starter wasn't getting enough juice or was stuck. no odd noises or anyhing.

for the past 6 months i've experienced intermittant problems with the initial start up as if the fuel pump wasn't getting any power. the starter would turn the engine... and turn it, and turn it and turn it, and it wouldn't start. this usually happened on a hot day or while the car was on a slant though, but i could never reproduce it when i wanted so i could never pinpoint what was causing it. it definantly had to do with fuel not getting to the engine...

but now all this has come together. not only will my car not stay running when it does start, but at this very moment it's turning over nice and strong (indicating a good battery charge) but not starting (indicating a fuel pump related problem) AND the instrument lights in the dash will NOT come on when i turn the key to the II position.

is my ignition switch dead?
is there a fuse i shoudl check?
is it my starter that's bad?
it can't be my alternator... the battery would be dead and if not it would at least start and run until it WAS dead.....

the only thing i've done recently was threaten it with an oil change... i'm gonna do that soon.

[turtlecrxsi]

I was thinking ignition switch or main relay.

My car acts like a bitch to start when hot and on a slant. And then driving along, when I come to a stop my battery light will pop on for a second. But my charging system works so I figure it's the damn wires all heat soaked. One time this was going on, I was on the freeway and then I hit mad traffic cuz up the road VW wrecked so I'm bouncing along in 2nd, 1st, etc. and kicking my side panel near the hood release. Eventually, it was fine.

There is a starter relay right above the hood release.

GL

[superbluecivicsi]

how do you rule out the charging system if your lights are fading and the wipers are moving slow?

actual battery and alternator voltage readings say? you also physically inspected these and all wire terminal connections?

[91CRXTC]

yes i agree with superbluecivic, first u say that the wipers and lights are slow and faided, then u say electrical is fine and battery is fine...but it doesnt sound that way. how old is your battery? do u have and corrosion around the bat terms? and how do u still have hot weather?

[turtlecrxsi]

Originally Posted by 91CRXTC

and how do u still have hot weather?

Not sure where skotman is exactly, but here in SC it was 85 when I left work a couple of days ago.

Edit: Just saw that skotman is in Mississippi which would make it still hot there and probably more so than here.