Ok, I have been dealing with this Issue in my 91 Caprice for a while now.... So starting a few weeks ago when I would hit my brakes or hit a huge bump my car would shut off completely. Then turn right back on, almost instantly, I mean it cuts off the motor, battery, lights, radio....everything. Then right back on. It is not constant problem just a randomly does it, and when it does, I have a very low Idle if I make any stops Every once in a while if I sent some current through the car, (turn signal, headlights...) it will do the same thing. My Master Cylinder went out a week or so later, so I replaced that. I replaced the Battery, and the car was fine for a week or so, but now it is doing it again. It also seems like there is a drain on the battery, cause now it is having trouble starting. I have replaced the ground wire to the frame, and tonight I am going to replace all wires to the Block, Alternator, Starter etc. I do not have a stereo or anything that would cause extra drain on the car, besides a basic radio It seems to me there is a bad ground or short or something, but I am at a loss....any Ideas? On a side note, I have no check engine lights on, or anything..... :banghead3:
Check any bulk head connectors you got, dunno about your car. Where they use plastic plugs to run juice through the fire wall, or any rear pannels. fuse box usually has one. should be full of non-conductive grease/wax to keep moisture out and not short out anything.
The more and more I think about it, it only does it when something has to do with the lighting system. Brake lights when I hit the brakes, turn signal lights, or headlights, which is all on the same switch Does not explain the bump issue, unless something has worn and is touching
I had a problem once with an old Dodge van. Seems the positive battery cable had come loose inside the cable clamp. It was a factory cable, not one of these add on clamps. Visually, it looked fine, but wiggle the cable, and lose all power. Check yours on both ends.
I check every wire I could find in the car last night, all looked ok. I will check that cable again, I did wiggle it a little and had no issues after road testing it last night, so I don't know. It is not a reacurring thing so it makes it even harder. I may be a little lost, but what switches were ya talking about mr touch me?
You were right sir! Even after alot of wiggling it was just a little loose, I had to replace the battery bolt a while back and it would not hold the wires all the way tight to the battery. Added a washer and FIXED!!! Good news is I now know where all the wiring goes in this car...... Took it all pretty much apart to check all grounds.... at least I found it.
Glad you found your problem. When you lose all power at one time, it is usually battery or cable related.
Yeah it was just so random, it was hard to find the issue, and you could barely move the cable, cause that was the first place I checked. There was a washer inside the connector that had welded itself to the bolt, so it would not make a solid connection all of the time.
