Headlights and engine shutdown

[diver9000]

My engine started the usual way and I was leaving my house to go to work. I turned on the headlights and the engine cut off. My voltage is reading a little lower than normal on the meter, so I bench tested the alternator first. No problem there. I checked the relays in the fusebox under the hood, they are good. I can turn whatever other accessory on and the engine runs ok. I turn on the headlights and it shuts off. The only thing that I recently replaced was my brake light switch but that was a few weeks ago. Any ideas?

[REN69]

Battery problems.. that happened to me when the battery terminal was lose and I guess even if the terminal was touching the battery for some reason it would cut out. Tighten up your terminal and see what happens. If not I bet the battery itself its on the way out.

[diver9000]

The battery is fairly new and I get good voltage from the battery to the fusebox, to the ECU, and to the dash. I removed the alternator and checked it without the alternator connected, and it did the same thing. It had the same hesitation as before. When its not running the battery puts out about 12.8-13v and when its running it puts out about 14-14.5v, so I know its getting a charge I just dont know if there is a relay somewhere that is burned out. Could a bad brake light switch have anything to do with the amount of voltage running to the headlights? I think so in this case cause they all run off the same circuits from headlight to tailight, however I am at a loss as to what to check now.

[diver9000]

I went through and pulled and reseated my wring harness connectors one by one. The connector next to the igniter/coil had come loose, but not off, causing a weak signal.

[ghost_ryder35]

Originally Posted by diver9000

My engine started the usual way and I was leaving my house to go to work. I turned on the headlights and the engine cut off. My voltage is reading a little lower than normal on the meter, so I bench tested the alternator first. No problem there. I checked the relays in the fusebox under the hood, they are good. I can turn whatever other accessory on and the engine runs ok. I turn on the headlights and it shuts off. The only thing that I recently replaced was my brake light switch but that was a few weeks ago. Any ideas?

brake light switch could have a bad ground, I had this problem with a 91 CRX SI and it turned out that the wiring to the headlights was actually grounding out on the body of the car. I would check all of the grounds especially around the lights and the brake light switch. Good luck and keep us posted

[diver9000]

Originally Posted by diver9000

I went through and pulled and reseated my wring harness connectors one by one. The connector next to the igniter/coil had come loose, but not off, causing a weak signal.

I thought about that too. But its fixed ..... read up above. Thanks