Random Problem - Need Opinions

[ScotSHO]

I have had my 99 SHO for about 7 months now and I have just started having a problem that has cropped up a couple of times.

99 SHO (Paul Fisher's & black92's old car)
Welded cams
83k miles
New battery 12/05 w/ good clean terminal connections
Stock stereo system (so no wierd battery draws)
No VAK (I don't think, but where can I check under the hood to verify?)
Battery light does not come on at all...

It has happened once when I arrived at work (last Wed), and once when I pulled in the driveway at home (last night). When I stop the car and put the shifter in park, the lights dim and the car stalls. When it stalls, all of the accessories and lights go dim for a second too. Last night when this happened after the car stalls, the wipers cycled once, the clock was reset to 12:00, and all of the accessories came back on within 2 seconds. The car starts right up and does not exibit the same problem, although I only kept it running for maybe 5 minutes afterwords. I have noticed that leading up to this, when the brakes are pressed, all of the interior lights dim and the radio may pop like the power was cycled very fast. Normally, the brake lights do not dim the electrical system at all.

I have my own ideas, but I don't want to lead you guys. So what do you think could be failing?

 

[BodylessSHO]

Random Guess:
A short by your brakelight switch. Though that doesn't explain why the car stalled.

 

[wuzzzer]

Weird stuff like that happened just before my battery bit the dust.

 

[nik97]

A short associated with the brake sw or Trans Range sensor could stall the vehicle if the VREF signal is temporarily shorted to ground. Closely inspect your'e wiring around these areas as well as all over for obvious concerns and bad grounds. This may be a number of different things tho.

 

[ScotSHO]

THanks for the tips, when I was driving home last night the electrical system "burped" again, but it was while I was driving. Plus when it happened, I didn't change any inputs (didn't touch the brakes, cruise was on). I checked the brake light switch wiring, looks good to me. I checked the battery and maxifuse connections, cleaned them up a little with sandpaper. The alt side of the maxifuse nut was a little loose, but I don't think that was the problem. I then tried to get to the large 12V connection on the alt... took the wheel off, still couldn't get a wrench or socket on it. Very little room to get to that thing.

Good news is I didn't have a problem driving in today, but I think it is just the randomness of this problem. I was initially thinking voltage regulator, but I don't think it would exhibit these symptoms. Any other ideas?

 

[jrcrum]

had something similar with mine, It stalled a few times in traffic, and a few times when i came to the car the clock would be reset, cleaned the battery contacts and haven't had anything for over a year.