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Intermittent electrical drop or loss

My wife has a 2000 Chevy Impala. Recently the dash lights have begun to be dim and then later brighten to normal. Sometimes, or maybe always, the symptom is accompanied by a whine. Yesterday she drove the car about a mile, shut it off, and when she tried to lock the doors, nothing happened. When she came out of the store, she couldn't start it, turn on the radio, and had no power anywhere. She switched the ignition switch on and off a few times, and then it started fine. Any suggestions?

Reply to
Mylanta
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Start at the battery, and measure for "voltage drops" from there. Turn on the interior lights for a load. With meter lead at the center of the ground post, measure to the battery cable clamp -- this measures the voltage drop right at the post connection. It should be

Reply to
AZ Nomad

Do all of the above. When checking voltages at several points, wiggle connectors and sections of wiring harness to check for intermittent connections.

Reply to
Paul Hovnanian P.E.

A similar problem happened with my cousins Chevy a few months ago. The battery cable was slightly loose. Dan

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Reply to
Dan Beaton

Reply to
philthy

check your ground

Reply to
nt_baker

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