So I'm on the toll road coming home and my check engine and ABS lights start to randomly flash every once in a while. Then my stereo starts to cut in and out, so I turn that off. Nothin happens for about a minute, so as I am getting off, my abs and check engine lights come on and stay on.

Im only about a block from my house so I decide to drive it home. At this point my idle is really bouncy, but once it gets going it runs fine. Once im at the stop light to get into my neighborhood, the SRS light starts to blink and my headlights dim. My windows wont roll up and I have a significant loss of power. My car wants to die but I drive it the final 5 feet to my house and turn it off. Now that the car is off, I can roll up the windows, but they went up super slow and my headlights were so dim I couldn't tell they were on. Now it wont start.

I am clueless. I have recently repaired numerous things on this car and sooner or later it will be fully restored and not on purpose. I just replaced the water pump, thermostat, and drive shaft flex disc. So I am scared at what this is going to cost. Anybody have any idea what is wrong?

Thanks for reading my huge post
Kevin

Sounds like your battery died. That might be simply due to the age of the battery or a lack of output from the alternator. If the battery is four or more years old it would be my prime suspect.

If it were the battery, your battery voltage light should have come on in the dash. Also, it wouldn't explain the CEL, SRS, and ABS lights. I wonder if your DME isn't going south?

If it were the battery, your battery voltage light should have come on in the dash. Also, it wouldn't explain the CEL, SRS, and ABS lights. I wonder if your DME isn't going south?

Going South?!?!?! Its already in Brazil!!!

If it were the battery, your battery voltage light should have come on in the dash. Also, it wouldn't explain the CEL, SRS, and ABS lights. I wonder if your DME isn't going south?
Actually it would. The electronics in the car are designed to work within a fairly narrow range. About 11.5-14.5v as I recall. With a good battery and normal alternator output the system will stay in that range. If the system voltage drops much below 11v odd things start to happen.

The "battery voltage light" is actually a signal from the alternator that indicates whether it is producing a voltage greater than the system voltage, which means that it is charging. A dead battery with a shorted internal cell won't turn that light on, but the system voltage will be way below normal (~10v).

Actually it would. The electronics in the car are designed to work within a fairly narrow range. About 11.5-14.5v as I recall. With a good battery and normal alternator output the system will stay in that range. If the system voltage drops much below 11v odd things start to happen.

The "battery voltage light" is actually a signal from the alternator that indicates whether it is producing a voltage greater than the system voltage, which means that it is charging. A dead battery with a shorted internal cell won't turn that light on, but the system voltage will be way below normal (~10v).
I never would have thought. Isn't the battery voltage light a warning for a low battery, though?

Actually, it means you are about to have a low battery since the alternator isn't charging the battery.

So I'm on the toll road coming home and my check engine and ABS lights start to randomly flash every once in a while. Then my stereo starts to cut in and out, so I turn that off. Nothin happens for about a minute, so as I am getting off, my abs and check engine lights come on and stay on.

Im only about a block from my house so I decide to drive it home. At this point my idle is really bouncy, but once it gets going it runs fine. Once im at the stop light to get into my neighborhood, the SRS light starts to blink and my headlights dim. My windows wont roll up and I have a significant loss of power. My car wants to die but I drive it the final 5 feet to my house and turn it off. Now that the car is off, I can roll up the windows, but they went up super slow and my headlights were so dim I couldn't tell they were on. Now it wont start.

I am clueless. I have recently repaired numerous things on this car and sooner or later it will be fully restored and not on purpose. I just replaced the water pump, thermostat, and drive shaft flex disc. So I am scared at what this is going to cost. Anybody have any idea what is wrong?

Thanks for reading my huge post
Kevin


I believe that your alternator died. What you just described is what happens when the engine runs soley off of the battery. You probably only made it something like 5 blocks right? You should have someone test the alternator to see if its charging the way it should and then you will have to recharge the battery fully. Check your alternator first.

I believe that your alternator died. What you just described is what happens when the engine runs soley off of the battery. You probably only made it something like 5 blocks right? You should have someone test the alternator to see if its charging the way it should and then you will have to recharge the battery fully. Check your alternator first.
That's what we were just talking about. If the alternator wasn't charging the batter, the battery light would come on.

Thanks for all your replies guys. I got the car towed this morning to get it checked out. It turned out to be the voltage regulator. I am relieved because I thought the fix was going to cost a lot more than the $220 that it is. Thanks again for your help, I learn more and more everytime soemthing like this happens; an upside to everything I guess.

Kevin

That's what we were just talking about. If the alternator wasn't charging the batter, the battery light would come on.

Yeah, the battery light should have come one.