Was driving to work yesterday and the car stopped running and all the idiot lights came on. Haven't been able to start it. Whenever I put the key in the on position, all the idiot lights stay on.

 

The idiot lights are supposed to stay on when the key is to on but the engine off. If the lights come on when the engine is running then that means there is generally something wrong with the alternator/charging system, but you don't need an alternator to start the car if the battery is in good shape. Does the engine turn over when you try to start it?

EDIT: Also, check the Black/Yellow wire at either coil w/key to on as it will verify that the EGI INJ fuse is good, and check any of the Black/White wires at the emission solenoids w/key to on as well as that will verify if the EGI Comp fuse is good. If neither the B/Y wire and B/W wire has voltage w/key to on then check the 15 amp Engine fuse in the interior fuse box.

 

Engine turns over fine, just as it normally does. While driving the car shut off and the idiot lights immediately came on. I don't remember all idiot lights on when the key in the on position, but I could be wrong.

 

They're designed to come on w/key to on but engine off. Anyway check the items I mentioned and provide us with some feedback.

 

Test battery, test alternator at pepboys or something. Replace what fails.

 

A charging problem fits if the battery now has a reduced charge. Sure it's turning over as fast as it normally does? The warning lights don't always come on if there's a problem charging while the engine is running. If it's borderline, and the battery is just slowly draining, I've seen them stay off until right before the engine stalls. I've had this happen both with corroded terminals and with an alternator that had a failing regulator.

 

You hit the nail on the head..checked the engine fuse and it was blown. Replaced and started right up. Now I need to figure out why the engine fuse blew.

 

Interesting.

 

Engine fuse powers the Main relay, Circuit Opening relay and the B/W wire connected to the back of the alternator in addition to an item related to automatic transmissions. If you replaced the fuse and turned the key to on and it didn't blow immediately then your problem is not as serious as it could be.

 

Well, at least I got that going for me ;-). Thanks much for the info, and I'll investigate the above to see if I can figure out why that fuse blew.