I went out to start my car last night and the battery was DEAD… real dead. I had a buddy jump me, and his running car still took a few minutes to get my battery charged enough to start the car. Once I started it, the gauge cluster didn’t light up, brake lights didn’t come on, and parking lights didn’t work. The warning lights, stereo and clock (which never works) all worked. Also, the **** to turn the headlights on felt like it was dragging, so I took it off and wiped it off and put it back in, but no change. Do you think there’s a pinched wire draining the battery and killing the lights, or does it just need more juice to light them or what? I’m confused and I hate electricity with a passion. Thanks.

 

I just fired it up again and since it was jumped ( 10 1/2 hrs ago) it seems to still have power. The headlight switch is still sticking, and the taillights, parking lights and gage lights are still down, so any ideas where I might track this to?

 

Blown Tail lamp fuse???

 

Are your headlights shining bright when the car is running. If the headlights are weak, then the alternator is at fault. If alternator is working correctly, you should have bright headlights with car running even if battery is not fully charged.

John -

 

If the alternator was the problem you would've seen the batt lights at the warning cluster. Concerning the lights, check all fuses (in the engine bay, and inside the car), you may have a electrical leak.

What was the last thing done to the car before this problem ocurred?

 

I just got back from a weekend camping trip and I had no problems with the car at all (other than the earlier ones with lights and all). The headlights are fine and the alt was just replaced and working. I'm sure the batt died when I left ehe parking lights half on, so I was hoping it was a blown fuse. I'll go check all of them today, since the last time I chekced fuses, I only checked a few. I actually got pulled over last night for driving with no tails (just turned dark and it was the first time I'd done it.... bastard got lucky...) but the guy just told me to put the four ways on and go home. OH well... thanks for the info, I'll see what happens

 

When my alt went on easter day, i got no idiot lights, car would just run.. loose power, idle funny and eventaly die, got my alt tested at napa and the regulator was toasted

 

just ripped some stuff apart and found out that it was the switch (thanks for suggesting alt, but like I said, I knew it wasn't the alt). So I tracked it down to the headlight switch. The lights come on if I push in the switch and turn on the parking lights, but not with headlights. So does anyone have a headlight switch that'll go in an 87 TII?