Hello All,
This question is a bit of an odd one, in that I'm asking about a car I owned many years ago. It had an issue that I never could get properly diagnosed, which has always bugged me. I'm hoping someone here can figure it out.
The car was a 1996 Dodge Neon Sport Coupe. DOHC Engine, 3-speed AT.
At around 50k miles, the car suffered a total loss of electrical power while I was driving. The car went from "just fine" to shuddering violently with the warning light panel lighting up like a Christmas tree to completely dead in about five seconds. No power at all. I couldn't even put on my emergency flashers.
All I could think to do was check the battery cables, which were fine. I had the car towed in to the dealership to find what had surely to be a short of some sort.
The mechanics went over it and couldn't find anything wrong, and told me the car was now running fine.
I picked it up and it did drive just fine for about another 3 weeks, when it died on me again. This time the car was parked, and there was no power at all when I tried to start it. I got so mad I stomped the floorboard with my foot and the car magically came back to life. ❓
I'd had enough with this car (it had other issues previously) and traded it in the next day. But I never did figure out what sort of short could have possibly caused such a catastrophic failure.
Anyone have any guesses as to what was happening?
TIA.
Well basically those neons or pieces of crap made in Mexico. And often the wiring systems just degrade so much that they show it out. Since everything is computer run. There's no saying where it started really
"Well basically those neons or pieces of cr*p made in Mexico. "
Amen to that. It was the worst car I've ever owned. Put me off Chrysler products forever!
suffered a total loss of electrical power
You mean "partial". If it was "total", then there would be no way for the instrument panel to "light up like a christmas tree".
It's not that uncommon and it's often a janky ignition switch.
Sorry, I worded my post awkwardly. The panel lit up for a couple of seconds, and then it went dead like everything else. I've never seen anything like it before or since. I'm just glad I was on a side street and not on the highway the first time, and parked the second time. Scary stuff.
(Beep beep) “Hi!”
