Car dies when headlights turn on!?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 115
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From: Austin, Texas
Car dies when headlights turn on!? Okay, so whenever my headlights turned on last night, my car would die a few seconds later. It would run just fine, so long as the headlghts were off. It had done this once before, but never this serious...and it has only happened when it rains.
The dash had a light that I hadn't seen before, it was on the top left, looked like a book with an "!" in the middle of it.
Anyone had this problem, or have any ideas?
I had to drive home last night with foglights only, E-brake pulled up a click or two, and hazards on. At 3:45am, that's not a fun thing to do.
The dash had a light that I hadn't seen before, it was on the top left, looked like a book with an "!" in the middle of it.
Anyone had this problem, or have any ideas?
I had to drive home last night with foglights only, E-brake pulled up a click or two, and hazards on. At 3:45am, that's not a fun thing to do.
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!?
...and it has only happened when it rains.
What does your voltage guage act like when you turn the accessories on? Is it steady most of the time or does it fluctuate a lot? Is this ONLY when the lights are on, or if you turn EVERYTHING else on does it start to die out too?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 115
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From: Austin, Texas
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!?
Damn Craig!
You need to take that thing out behind the barn and put it out of it's misery. It's begging for mercy. :p
You need to take that thing out behind the barn and put it out of it's misery. It's begging for mercy. :p
I'd say alternator...when it rains you've got all of your accessories on - all lights, A/C, wipers, etc. Sounds like your battery/charging system isn't up to the task...just my $.02
What does your voltage guage act like when you turn the accessories on? Is it steady most of the time or does it fluctuate a lot? Is this ONLY when the lights are on, or if you turn EVERYTHING else on does it start to die out too?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 115
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From: Austin, Texas
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!? Car runs fine with AC off, wipers off, radio off, foglights off, headlights on.
When I turn on the foglights, the right turn signal indicator turns on.
Horn (for arming the alarm) sounds REAL weak.
The light that's on in the top corner of the dash, looks like low winshield washer fluid? Maybe?
When I turn on the foglights, the right turn signal indicator turns on.
Horn (for arming the alarm) sounds REAL weak.
The light that's on in the top corner of the dash, looks like low winshield washer fluid? Maybe?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!? Nothing lately, I installed my stereo, but it actually did this once or twice prior to that. The only electrical things I've changed are Harlan shift light, and white face gauges.... I'm getting ready to pull out the gauges though.... maybe do that today if the danged rain would go away.
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Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!? Damn, dude... 
Well, if no one chimes in before tomorrow, I'll ask the mechanics at work...they always seen to have some insight into stuff like this
Well, if no one chimes in before tomorrow, I'll ask the mechanics at work...they always seen to have some insight into stuff like this
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Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!? Have you done anything to the juction block connections behind the left headlamp.
Make sure they are tight, = check the plastic housing the stud so that it is not melted.
How old is that red top?
Had a run of crappy ones 1-2 year ago.
Make sure they are tight, = check the plastic housing the stud so that it is not melted.
How old is that red top?
Had a run of crappy ones 1-2 year ago.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 115
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From: Austin, Texas
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!?
Have you done anything to the juction block connections behind the left headlamp.
Make sure they are tight, = check the plastic housing the stud so that it is not melted.
How old is that red top?
Had a run of crappy ones 1-2 year ago.
Make sure they are tight, = check the plastic housing the stud so that it is not melted.
How old is that red top?
Had a run of crappy ones 1-2 year ago.
Check the plastic housing on what? The actual headlight assembly? By left, do you mean passenger side?
Red top is 3 months old, bought brand new from a local auto parts store.
Thanks for everyone's help thus far!
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!? Left as sitting in drivers seat, so drivers side.
Check that block there & you'll see what I mean.
Can you rev the motor up & keep it running b-4 turning on the lights?
Check that block there & you'll see what I mean.
Can you rev the motor up & keep it running b-4 turning on the lights?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!?
Left as sitting in drivers seat, so drivers side.
Check that block there & you'll see what I mean.
Can you rev the motor up & keep it running b-4 turning on the lights?
Check that block there & you'll see what I mean.
Can you rev the motor up & keep it running b-4 turning on the lights?
I'll go look at the block momentarily.... I don't remember messing/seeing anything over there in particular that looked bad or worn though.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 115
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From: Austin, Texas
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!? Okay, so I went and checked around the fuse block, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary, other than a really dirty engine bay 
I checked all the obvious ground connections, such as the stereo, the battery, and the likes, and they all appeared to have a good ground.
Tomorrow I'm going to pull the radio and check for any odd wiring back there as well as pull the gauges. I'm thinking (hoping) it may just have something to do with the headlight switch itself. I tied in to the headlight switch for my gauges, and the gauges don't light up properly anymore. I'll know more tomorrow...
I checked all the obvious ground connections, such as the stereo, the battery, and the likes, and they all appeared to have a good ground.
Tomorrow I'm going to pull the radio and check for any odd wiring back there as well as pull the gauges. I'm thinking (hoping) it may just have something to do with the headlight switch itself. I tied in to the headlight switch for my gauges, and the gauges don't light up properly anymore. I'll know more tomorrow...
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!? i had something similar once, check the ground on the passenger side of the air box. this caused my engine to die when i turned the lights on and my blinker to stay on as well.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 115
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From: Austin, Texas
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!? Well, today, I went under the hood and checked the ground wires on both sides of the airbox, and the ground from the battery going to the passenger side shock tower. They all appeared to be solid.
I went ahead and pulled out my white face gauges and swapped out the headlight **** assembly (happened to have a spare)
So far, the car hasn't duplicated the problem. But, again, it's not raining anymore either. I tried loading the electrical system as much as I could. Turned on the stereo, lights, hazards, AC, foglights, and then hit the brights also... no problems.
I dunno, this happened once before, and was fine for a couple months....maybe the same thing will happen this time?
Oh well, thanks for everyone's help, and if you have any suggestions on what else to check, please let me know!
I went ahead and pulled out my white face gauges and swapped out the headlight **** assembly (happened to have a spare)
So far, the car hasn't duplicated the problem. But, again, it's not raining anymore either. I tried loading the electrical system as much as I could. Turned on the stereo, lights, hazards, AC, foglights, and then hit the brights also... no problems.
I dunno, this happened once before, and was fine for a couple months....maybe the same thing will happen this time?
Oh well, thanks for everyone's help, and if you have any suggestions on what else to check, please let me know!
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Re: Car dies when headlights turn on!? Did it happen when it was raining again?
I set an SES light last night, and pulled the code today. It's P0102 Mass Air Flow Sensor Circuit Low Frequency.
I'm not sure if the code is causing the problem, or is simply a by product of it.