car question

[scottsins]

'99 Tahoe
Yesterday: Car starts, then dies as I roll out of my parking space. After putting it back in park, it re-starts and drives fine.

Today: My wife drives the car to school with no problems.

Tonight, leaving the gym, the same thing happens as yesterday. No response at all, headlights trun off, radio, I can not even turn the hazard lights on, because, apparently there is no elec.

I'm thinking alternator, and that the battery finally drained from not being recharged.

However, as my wife pulls up to Gold's to pick me up, my alarm starts going crazy, the headlights turn on, the flashers turn on, and the car starts right up.

I left the car there, since I did not want it to die on Mo-Pac on the way home.

Last summer I got a new battery and alternator at NTB, and it's under warranty. What the **** could be wrong with my car? Could it be the alternator or battery, given that it miraculously regained juice like that?

As my wife pulls

 

[Texas_Rocks]

You check all the connections ?

 

[scottsins]

like maybe the battery terminal? jesus, I did not even think about that. that would explain how NO POWER went suddenly to FULL JUICE. if its any other connection than the battery terminals themselves, then I( will have to pay someone to find it. I don't know jack **** about that stuff.

 

[ryskey]

There's a big chance it's just one of your battery terminals. Just loosen them up with a 8mm or 5/16" wrench and tighten them back up, this time pretty tight. Clean all the corrosion off with battery cleaner, or if you don't have that, use some coca cola.

Same thing happened to my truck, which has basically the exact same stuff under the hood as your tahoe.

 

[pmg]

In reply to:

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[ryskey]

sorry, battery terminal cleaner. it reacts with the corrosion. comes in a little spray bottle.

 

[Mizzou415]

just pouring a coke on it will break up the corrosion as well

 

[Baboso]

I had a 96 Blazer that was acting the same way. It was the voltage regulator. It was very exciting when I was going 75 mph on the interstate at night, in the rain, and the bastard just dies. No lights, no turn signals, no emergency flashers, no windshield wipers, and I'm in the fast lane with no shoulder on the left. The pucker factor was high as I coasted over 2 lanes and finally got on the shoulder.

 

[horn4life]

Clean the terminals and the interior of the connector with the $3.95 tool from any auto parts store.

i would guess it's a connection problem, see if the connections are loose by trying to turn the connector with your hand or some channel locks before removing them.

Coincidentally I had a similar prolem this morning, unfortunately it was in front of the gas pump ast COSTCO. Luckily the guy there has some wrenches so I could remove and retighten the connections. In my case all the electrics were working EXCEPT the starter.

You might also look hard at your connector cables and look for corrosion that might also be breaking the connection if the connection is not loose at the battery when you inspect it initially.

Get the thing running and take it to nearly any auto place and they can roll out a testing unit. If they don't find a specific problem it's a connection issue.

 

[cacti]

Could be several things-ignition switch could be bad, battery or alternator or connections could be bad. Could be ignition module, or even fuel problem-intermittent fuel pump action. Or you could have forgotten your twice weekly trip to the Exxon station.