Car died while driving
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 17
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From: Vista, Cali
Car died while driving I was at autozone tonight and got in my 98' Formula A4 and it started no problem. Started down the street and when I was putting up my window I noticed when the window stopped and my finger was still on the switch the 'check gauges' light would flash for a split second. Hit the switch a few more time trying to figure out what was going on. Voltage meter was steady at 13-14 or so. At the next stoplight the gauges would dim and radio would die for a split second. (Amp is disconnected) Put it into neutral and kept the rpm's up till I got on the highway. No problems on the highway till I got off the highway and made a righthand turn where everything died exept for the engine for another split second. Was on the downhill slope to my apartment complex so I decided to see if it's the alternator. Turned on A/C with fan on high, turned radio up and the car died completely. Not what I was expecting at all 
Luckily I coasted to complex and was able to push car into parking spot. The only thing that was making noise was a clicking sound and the security light was blinking real dim and fast. No other power at all!. Checked battery connections. No corrosion and they were tight. Door locks didn't work, headlights wouldn't go down.
I drove BACK to autozone (in the altima) and got a Red Top Optima. Installed it and Viola...powers back, like nothing happened. The old battery is a DELCO and I have no idea how old it is. There was no indication that it was going dead, car always cranked with seemingly plenty of power. Should I be concerned about the alternator? Voltage meter always reads about 13-14 volts. Why would the battery go completely dead out of no where? Any else have a Delco that failed like that? Thanks.
Luckily I coasted to complex and was able to push car into parking spot. The only thing that was making noise was a clicking sound and the security light was blinking real dim and fast. No other power at all!. Checked battery connections. No corrosion and they were tight. Door locks didn't work, headlights wouldn't go down. I drove BACK to autozone (in the altima) and got a Red Top Optima. Installed it and Viola...powers back, like nothing happened. The old battery is a DELCO and I have no idea how old it is. There was no indication that it was going dead, car always cranked with seemingly plenty of power. Should I be concerned about the alternator? Voltage meter always reads about 13-14 volts. Why would the battery go completely dead out of no where? Any else have a Delco that failed like that? Thanks.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,117
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From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
If your battery died while you were driving as you described you could have damaged the alternator. You won't know till you drive around for a little while to see if the battery keeps a charge.
Or you can find out pretty fast, start it up and disconnect the battery while its running, if the cars stays on your alternator should be fine.
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Or you can find out pretty fast, start it up and disconnect the battery while its running, if the cars stays on your alternator should be fine.
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sounds crazy but if you have the power seat , check and make sure you the power wires to the seat are not caught in the seat tracks-I had the same thing happen, and did as you in buying a red top Optima, car ran fine for awile then I noticed my Bat charge gauge was running at a high discharge, pulled the fuse panel cover, the seat fuse was burning hot but not blown, turns out the seat wires had been cut into by adjusting the seat, and were shorted on the track I must have pushed them there while vacuming. spliced and tied the wires end of problem.
