1998 Chevy Prism Engine problem

This doesn't sound like the alternator to me. Even if the alternator was dead and off the car if the battery had enough power to start the engine it should keep it running for a little while with the lights on.

Does the Prizm have two positive cables coming off the battery (sandwiched together)? If it does remove them both, separate them and clean the heck out of them.

If this isn't the problem then I would suspect a bad ground somewhere or problems in the main power feed (loose connection somewhere that gets overstressed by the lights coming on). Start checking ground and B+ connections around the battery.

Steve B.

No.

First verify that your battery terminals, posts, and wires are clean and intact.

Then I would continue by locating the following ground wires/10mm head screws and cleaning, checking for breaks, and retightening them:

Engine ground at front of engine just to the left of where the intake manifold flange and head meet (assuming the 98 Prizm is the newer

Headlight switch ground in the lower driver's kick panel area behind trim

Body ground in passenger kick panel area behind trim

Ground, front left fender near the headlight housing

IF you are also experiencing problems with the headlights or DRLs or the blue highbeam indicator light is on all of the time, look up behind the inside fusebox (driver's knee bolster in dash)for a small junction connector that has both White/Black and Red/Yellow wires going to it. See if this connector looks overheated.

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And if you have a highly modified car alarm with an engine kill function that is tied into the headlight switch, then look there as well (obvious)

Toyota MDT in MO

If the OP's 98 Prizm is equipped with the Delco CS (crap suck) alternator then I would not be surprised if it was bad. But atleast when they fail there is a high probability that the charge light will come on, solving the mystery.

I haven't seen one cause such fluky behavior. If it was a case of battery system voltage dropping below a certain threshold with the lights on, I would think that eventually the car would stop running regardless of battery load. This sounds more like a bad ECM or DRL/headlight ground to me. I don't know what to make of the A/C related idle problem, short of bad ECM ground or a combination of problems.

Toyota MDT in MO

Hmm, thnk you all for the responses! Now, the bad ground and DRL might be an answer... a while back my DRL quit working..might have been a clue, I will check that all out and report back!

Thanks!!