An electrical troubleshooting problem:
Have a 1994 Nissan Sentra, w/ low miles (73,000); 2-door. The car has AC, but no power steering, no power brakes, no extras.
First, I will tell you the symptoms, then I will tell you what I did and result.
SYMPTOMS:
Car was running fine until it broke while waiting for me in the shopping center parking lot.
When the car has any electrical load, all electrical systems go offline -- not unlike the tripping of a circuit breaker. Can disconnect the (-) cable from battery and reconnect, and the car can keep minimal electrical items online.
For example, the dome light is ON, ok, but if I turn ON the headlights, all electric items go OFF. Then I power-cycle the (-) battery, and the dome light works, the radio works, but if I beep the horn, it all goes OFF again.
So when the electrical load reaches a certain threshold, the electrical system shuts OFF.
WHAT_I_DID:
- With voltmeter, the battery checks fine, however, I tried to jump-start, same result as above; no help.
- Batter load with no (-) cable on it and with the (-) cable on it has no difference; so no indication of a short.
- I have disconnected car alarm, unplugged much of the console-dash items; disconnected power cables to both doors.
- Disconnected and examined ECCS Relay to cars computer. Symptoms are same with ECCS connected or not.
- Tried the car cold, 24 hours later, still a no-go.
What could be acting like a circuit breaker that would cause this condition?
Ron