My '98 XC Just Died On The Road Topic is solved

DaveP189 · Post by **DaveP189** » 26 Feb 2017, 14:52

Completely dead. Was going along and - Poof! - it quit. No lights, no numbers on the dash displays, even the 4-ways won't come on. So, something electrical, but I have no idea what.
Belt is intact. 2-year old Interstate battery. No warning.
Any ideas, Please?

Post by **erikv11** » 26 Feb 2017, 15:05

Are the battery cables still intact? If one of those broke near the battery that would do it.

Also, try jiggling the key a little, this can happen when the ignition switch goes bad.

Also I wonder about the main J relays, if one of those blew this might happen, but that might be harder to check out.

DaveP189 · Post by **DaveP189** » 26 Feb 2017, 15:24

Cables are intact and secure at the battery.
I did just do some work on the ignition switch (key wouldn't turn), but it's been a couple months and not a single issue.
Is the relay something I can check w/ a multimeter?

Post by **misha** » 26 Feb 2017, 15:39

Battery cells shorted inside(rare,but happened to my friend recently),car just died while driving without warning...other than that....ignition lock might be bad.

Post by **tryingbe** » 26 Feb 2017, 16:06

Dead alternator that lead to a dead battery would be my guess.

Post by **misha** » 26 Feb 2017, 16:19

Dead alternator would light up a battery light first.So,there would be a warning first.
He mentioned that he had problems with ignition switch recently....could be it again if some cheap replacement was installed.
I would check the battery first.Remove it and try another one.

Post by **erikv11** » 26 Feb 2017, 17:06

Yeah, dead alternator should be more of a slower death, not all of a sudden.

DaveP189 · Post by **DaveP189** » 26 Feb 2017, 18:00

The ignition work I did was the "key stuck/won't go past I" thing (mechanical, not electrical), but that was a couple months ago, it's run perfect since. Not saying that's not it, though.
I mean it literally was driving fine and in an instant it was deader than a doornail.
Will try the battery swap tomorrow.

Post by **abscate** » 26 Feb 2017, 18:28

Dave..suddenly dead is probably not a battery problem. There is a fusible link that supplies most everything that could have popped. You have to replace/splice that.

You should be able to use the starter bypass to test if the battery is good enough to turn the starter and confirm battery and cables are ok, at least down to starter.

Ignition switch or load relay would be my guidance based on symptoms

Post by **cn90** » 26 Feb 2017, 18:33

Or could be the infamous fuel pump RELAY.
Search forum for a jump wire between terminals 15 and 87.