1994 Chevy Caprice 94 Caprice Electrical Shutdown while run

Tiny
SAFETYGUY5775
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 61,000 MILES
I have a 94 Caprice that experiences total electrical shutdown while driving the car. The wierd thing is that it will somtiems start right back up, other times you have to wait a bit. Volt gauge bounces all over the palce depending on what accessories are on. Alternator is less that 5000 miles old and battery is less than 2 yrs old. Car runs great. It has even not started. Dead as a doornail. No lights. No chimes. And I can go back out later, and it fires right up. Oh, I do not charge the battery or jump it to get it started. All connetions for power look great. Could this be the alternator again, starter, electric water pump. Or just a gremlin?

Mark
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 AT 1:50 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,700 POSTS
Hi:
Gremlins could be the problem or we may need to call in a priest.

Seriously, everything you described to me sounds like a ground problem. Make sure the ground from the battery is clean and tight, where it attaches to the engine is the same and make sure there is no break in the wire or corrosion problem.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Saturday, November 29th, 2008 AT 10:56 PM
Tiny
SAFETYGUY5775
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The underhood aux batery post located next to the underhood fuse box, at some point in the cars life overheated and melted a bunch of plastic stuff. Best we can figure it first happened about 10 years ago to my dad. All repairs made, even at dealers, involved new alternator or battery. THe original post was made of pot metal. Would overheat and melt and create the future intermittant problem. A new post (made of brass) and about and hour of worked fixed the problem. Chevy actually psoted a TSB on this in November1994. But it was directed at Cop cars, taxis and wagons.

But she runs great now.
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Sunday, November 30th, 2008 AT 10:16 PM

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