YACT: What does it mean when this happens?

[murphy55d]

Stats: 1996 Oldsmobile Bravada, ~53,000 miles

This started the other day... when I turn the key, it'll fire up as normal, then after 10 seconds or so, it'll just shut off. The battery light and check gages light come on. I start it up again, and it'll run fine. So today, I start it up, does the same thing, kicks off after a few seconds, then im driving down the road, make a right turn(on back residential roads, so no traffic), and the fscking thing quits during my turn. My brakes were locked, could not press down on them, so I had to coast until I came to a stop, let it sit for a minute, started it up again and it ran fine again. Then I went thru the drive-in at Taco Bell, and while sitting at the order thing, it quit. Started it up again, and had no problems on the way home. What may be wrong here? Since the battery light came on, is my battery dying?

thanks
-car stupid

edit: i dont know what all information to include, so if theres any more info you need, ask.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

as far as I know, it wouldn't be the battery as once the car starts it draws power from the engine instead of the battery (battery is just for starting the engine).

that's about all I know. time to take it to a mechanic.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Take it to Auto Zone for a free battery/alternator check.

 

[djheater]

Engine starts, but stops immediately
1. Loose or faulty electrical connections at distributor, coil or alternator.
2. Fault in the fuel or electrical systems
3. Vacuum leak at the gasket surfaces of the intake manifold or throttle body. Make sure all mounting bolts/nuts are tightened securely and all vacuum hoses connected to the manifold are positioned properly and in good condition
4. Fault in the Engine Control System.

 

[murphy55d]

Ok so if nothing comes up if I take it to autozone or advance, should I just take it to my mechanic tomorrow?

 

[murphy55d]

ended up being a bad battery. got it replaced. thx for the advice all.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
ended up being a bad battery. got it replaced. thx for the advice all.

glad you didn't follow mine.

 

[Tweak155]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
ended up being a bad battery. got it replaced. thx for the advice all.

i dont know how stalling can be related to a bad battery...but i'll buy it i guess

 

[virtueixi]

Originally posted by: Tweak155

Originally posted by: murphy55d
ended up being a bad battery. got it replaced. thx for the advice all.

i dont know how stalling can be related to a bad battery...but i'll buy it i guess

The alternator is not meant to power the car by itself, in fact you could damage it running the car this way. However, if your battery was bad, how did you start the car in the 1st place? Did you jump it?

 

[Colt45]

do you even know what brakes being locked is? I'll give you a hint - it doesn't mean that you have no power assist.

when your engine dies, the pump quits working. (er i guess it could be vacuum rather than hydraulic), therefore no power.. so you have to push hard

 

[Gamingphreek]

Jeez... that weird! I find it hard to grasp that the battery was the source of the problem as once the car is started its started. If the battery dies it aint gonna start up again without cranking or jumping.

Just out of curiosity was this a MT or an AT.

-Kevin

 

[virtueixi]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Jeez... that weird! I find it hard to grasp that the battery was the source of the problem as once the car is started its started. If the battery dies it aint gonna start up again without cranking or jumping.

Just out of curiosity was this a MT or an AT.

-Kevin

That used to be the case in older cars. But modern cars have computers, pumps, fans and a bunch of other electrically driven things, most alternators cannot power them all by itself. When the current get's lower than a certain voltage the car's computer shuts the car off to prevent damage.

 

[Ornery]

Hmmm, first thing that came to mind for me, was the fuel pump.

 

[murphy55d]

I have no explanation. All I know is that after the battery was replaced, I haven't had any problems.

 

[Ronstang]

I don't know what kind of car you have but it sounds like it could be an idle air bypass solenoid problem. On some cars this is called the idle speed motor or something else.

 

[alexeikgb]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Take it to Auto Zone for a free battery/alternator check.

 

[iamwiz82]

It could have been something as simple as a loose connection on your battery. Did you check them before you bought a new one?

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
I have no explanation. All I know is that after the battery was replaced, I haven't had any problems.

so in other words, they tightened a wire, replaced the battery that did not need to be replaced, and charged you 3x the price?

sorry, but I just can't see how it could be the battery either.

oh well it's working now and you are happy.. :thumbsup:

 

[OrganizedChaos]

never heard of a car that prevents braking if the engine isn't running. that wouldn't pass inspection in my state.

 

[murphy55d]

No, I had the battery checked at 2 different places(autozone and advance auto parts). Both said it was bad.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Originally posted by: virtueixi

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Jeez... that weird! I find it hard to grasp that the battery was the source of the problem as once the car is started its started. If the battery dies it aint gonna start up again without cranking or jumping.

Just out of curiosity was this a MT or an AT.

-Kevin

That used to be the case in older cars. But modern cars have computers, pumps, fans and a bunch of other electrically driven things, most alternators cannot power them all by itself. When the current get's lower than a certain voltage the car's computer shuts the car off to prevent damage.

If the alternator can't provide all the power the car needs, then the battery would eventually go dead because the alternator wouldn't be able to charge it.

 

[Xionide]

IS it a french car? Cause if it and it detects a problem (interior light wont come on) it will automatically give up. JK

 

[db]

Some cells in the battery could have been shorting out, but not yet to the point that it would not start the car, but enough to cause an "electrical problem".

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
No, I had the battery checked at 2 different places(autozone and advance auto parts). Both said it was bad.

I'm still dying to hear how you were able to restart the car after it stalled. NOTHING sucks juice like a starter motor spinning the engine, and your "spent battery" was able to do it several times.

Could it be that a connection to your accessories was corroded or had a loose connection at the battery terminal? A connection that was made tight when the new battery was installed?

 

[murphy55d]

Originally posted by: Ornery

Originally posted by: murphy55d
No, I had the battery checked at 2 different places(autozone and advance auto parts). Both said it was bad.

I'm still dying to hear how you were able to restart the car after it stalled. NOTHING sucks juice like a starter motor spinning the engine, and your "spent battery" was able to do it several times.

Could it be that a connection to your accessories was corroded or had a loose connection at the battery terminal? A connection that was made tight when the new battery was installed?

I have no idea. There was some corrosion on the red battery connector so maybe that played into it. When they hooked it up to their little tester machine both times it came back "Bad battery". Is there a difference between a bad battery and a spent battery? My old battery was an AC Delco, and has some kind of color-indicator on it. From what I understand, green means it is still good, and "clear" means the battery is dying/dead/needs changed. Mine was definitely not green, it was pretty colorless.