Caprice died this morning...help!

[bridget36907]

I started my car this morning as usual, got about 3 miles down the road and it went dead like it was out of gas or something, but it's not. It would turn over with no problem and start intermittently, but would not stay started long enough for me to move. After about 5 minutes I could finally drive it home.

The lights were dim and barely noticeable. the battery charge and all the guages look good, but it was running weak, but ran better and smoother once i turned out the lights. I could smell exhaust fumes. I took the neg battery cable off while it was running and it went dead immediately.

After all of this i realized that my radio did not start until i was about a mile down the road, it normally starts sooner.

my brake lights are very dim, and like i said the car runs smoother when i turn off all lights.

I am not sure whether to think battery, alternator or fuel system. Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.

1995 caprice lt1

Thanks

[GreyGoose006]

i would guess alternator or battery

the weak fuel symptoms could be the fuel pump not getting enough power...

[bridget36907]

i had the alternator checked and it was good, i replaced the battery and still the same problem

[bobss396]

Taking the negative battery terminal off and having it stall is a sure sign of a no-charge condition, not necessarily a bad alternator in all cases.

Look for a shorted wire somewhere, loose connection at the fuse block is a quick and easy check. Take a good look at the positive battery cable all the way to the starter.

Bob

[EngineandJuice]

Yea I had an issue with my car starting. I had the starter alternator and battery checked before I found out it was all a freyed wire leading from the battery to the alternator. I didn't find this out until I was reinstalling the battery and the wire just fell out of the post. Spent hours removing parts and running to teh store when connections should've been checked first.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by bridget36907

I started my car this morning as usual, got about 3 miles down the road and it went dead like it was out of gas or something, but it's not. It would turn over with no problem and start intermittently, but would not stay started long enough for me to move. After about 5 minutes I could finally drive it home.

The lights were dim and barely noticeable. the battery charge and all the guages look good, but it was running weak, but ran better and smoother once i turned out the lights. I could smell exhaust fumes. I took the neg battery cable off while it was running and it went dead immediately.

After all of this i realized that my radio did not start until i was about a mile down the road, it normally starts sooner.

my brake lights are very dim, and like i said the car runs smoother when i turn off all lights.

I am not sure whether to think battery, alternator or fuel system. Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.

1995 caprice lt1

Thanks

with a voltmeter measure the voltage across the battery with engine running...you must have 14.5 volts if lessthan 13volts your not charging the battery... have battery load tested after putting battery on a charger for 8hrs....


with out using a meter and looking at dim lights you will never guess what the problem is with out spending a lot of effort and money until you correct this..

[silicon212]

Not 14.5, design voltage is 13.8 - although 14.5 is safe, it is on the upper end of what is safe.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Not 14.5, design voltage is 13.8 - although 14.5 is safe, it is on the upper end of what is safe.

14.5 volts is with a cold engine..... but if it is pheonix az and temp is 110deg f i agree 13.8 might be right...

my repair manual says 14.25-14.75 volts dc is normal range....15.2volts at 0deg f.....13.5 at 110 deg f....


basicly the higher the temp the lower the voltage...my vehicles 14.75vdc cold engine air temp 60 deg f.....

[Blue Bowtie]

You might also inspect the main power stud at the UEC and the connections to the bussing in that fuse panel. There was a TSB regarding poor connections there. The original stud is cast zinc, and the replacement stud is phosphor bronze.

[bridget36907]

It ended up being a loose ground wire in the trunk.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by bridget36907

It ended up being a loose ground wire in the trunk.

It's been awhile since you had this problem...so the bad trunk ground caused the fuel pump to cause this...

with you dim lights It appeared to be an electrical problem at the battery or alternator...or possibly a ground in the engine area....