Need some help please

[98camaro6er]

Ok heres the deal: Went out today to get a grinder, drove up my street a little ways when my car just completely shut off and died. Power steering went powere brakes went, everyting. Tried to start it up and it wouldnt. Waited a while cause I thought the wires may just have gotten a little wet with all the rain, tried it again and nothing. Tried it again, nothing. Any ideas of what this may be? I drove it earlier today without incident so it just struck me as odd that all of a sudden my car would just die like that. On a side note I had had some troubles in the past where my car seemed like it wouldnt start up but after a couple tries it would turn over. I recently had my ignition wires replaced and these start up problems, although they rarely occured, happened AFTER the replacement. Id really like some ideas as to what it can be because quite honestly Im POed cause this completely shot my weekend plans.

[need4speed]

You've got to figure out if this is an electrical problem or mechanical problem. Does blower motor and radio, lights, wipers, etc work when the key is in the on position? Do you hear the fuel pump pressurize the line before you start the motor right after you turn the key to on? Gauges working? showing normal reading?

[98camaro6er]

Guages arent workin right when I go to start it. Battery guage seems low and the oil guage shoots right up to about the halfway mark. I dunno what to listen for when you talk about the fuel pump pressurizing and i didnt even check the radio and stuff but the clock comes on. My friends comin up soon to help me take a looksee. Ill try out my lights and stuff when he gets here.

[Devilboy28]

Sounds like a battery/alt problem.

[hockeyman]

Replace the battery!
My 86 T/A did the same thing. Turns out that a core in the battery just went out one day as I was driving it, and it died and wouldn't restart (cheap A$$ battery).
I installed a new starter, battery wires, alternator, and it still wouldn't kick over. I put a good quality battery in it, and it started like it was new. Maybe the alternator went too because the car stalled on you, but my guess is the battery.

-Marc

[98camaro6er]

OK my friend came over to help me look at it and the friggin thing started up. :mad: Just my luck hehe. Takin it to get checked tomorrow anyway. Thanks for the help guys.

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

my roomkate has an ss.. and had a similar problem like 2 days ago.. turned out to just be corrosion around some grounds and around the fuse box.. it simply caused the starter not to get a good enough current.. it was oddddd..

good luck
~Billy

[need4speed]

Make sure battery cables are tight on the posts. I think it's your alternator failing, but possibly battery is shot too. The fuel pump will make a little humming sound when you first turn the ignition to on and it will only do it for about 1 second. Can't really hear it unless the windows are down.

[98camaro6er]

Whats the life of an alternator? I just got a new one put in Id say about 2 years ago. I would imagine it would last a little longer than that. :(