Help!! My beater's got a problem!
 

Went out this morning and started my car. It's an 88 Oldsmobile Calias. I let it run for several minutes. I went back out to go to work. I get in, turn on my headlights, and as soon as I turn on the heat the car just dies. The enginge stopped running. However the headlights were still on. I turned them off and went to restart it. NOTHING. Not even a small crank. The entire electrical seems dead.

Anybody have any ideas as to what could be happening? Winter is not over yet, so I don't really want to dig the truck out.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Could be just a bad battery, go to a battery store and get a free load test. Try jumping it or put a battery charger on it for a while, see if you can get it started. If its been cold out the cold will sap any strength left on an old battery. Also put a volt meter on your alternator, should be putting out at least 14 amps.

When you turned the heater on, did that turn the heater fan on too? If so, you may have a 'dead' battery that finally gave up or the battery cable's clamps may be corroded. Check the clamps and posts first.

If that's not it, I would 'jump' the battery with a good one and then(if it will run--keep the lights and fan off) drive it to an Auto Zone(etc.) and get them to do a 'load' test on the battery and alternator.

Dan

Thanks, for the help guys. I kinda had an idea that the battery was probably the culprit. Again thanks.

Sounds like your altenator is bad. I would probably replace the battery too because a bad batt can take out the new alt. GM altenators suck.

Check the pos. battery cables GM's are bad about corrosion there
and can produce a no crank condition as well as not returning the charge back to the batt.! Hope this helps:thumbsup:

Scott

is it possible that maybe the fan froze up and blew a big fuse of some sort? OR maybe your A/C compressor died and locked up... those usually come on with most cars whether you use hot or cold for dehumidifying/conditioning purposes

just a thought

Check the connections at the starter, find the Fuseable link, check it with a volt meter.

my beater blew up in december so i have been driving the L every day. It has its ups and downs driving it every day.