ToMaC

Well here's whats going on. Car started fine this morning and when I went to lunch today. Drove it home about 5 miles and let the fans run on low via fan mod after I parked it. Got back in about an hour later, turned the key, nothing. At first I though crap I must of left my parking lights on but I didn't. So I popped the hood and cleaned my battery terminals, tried again and nothing. I popped the main fuses out (the box connected to the positive terminal wire) blew them off and put them back in. It barely turned over but it started.

But on the way back to work, everytime I pressed on the brakes my cd player/radar detector would turn off then immediately come back on. The same happened if I turned on the AC or turned the lights on. Got back to work, turned the car off and turned the key to on and the only thing that happened is my temp gauge moved a little bit off of the needle. Is this just a hint that my battery is dying/dead or do I have bigger problems?

Im driving a base model 93'.. Any help is appreciated.

rynberg

Sounds like a dead battery to me, possibly combined with a bad alternator.

vchacon

Rynberg is correct. Battery was being used to supplement the power needed by the car that the alternator was not providing. The alternator is on it's way out. Have it tested at a parts store.

Victor

InsaneGideon

What happens if you try revving the motor a bit (2.5k) in neutral with your headlights on? Does the radio come back on? Sometimes a dying alternator will "wake up" and start producing better power at a higher RPM... though the same would be true if a dead battery is loading it up.