1995 S14 Electrical Problem

[FinkenS14]

OK. This is a long story, so bear with me.

A few weeks ago I got some autozone fog lights, and installed them, and just stuck the power wire for the fogs into the stock fog light relay. (I have a base model, so there is no actualy relay, just the empty spot).

So that whenever I turned my headlights on, my fogs would come on aswell.

Well then I started having problems. Whenever Id put the clutch in and come to a stop, the car wud idle really low, lights wud dim, and then it'd go right back to normal idle.

Well one day while I was driving I went to turn the lights on since it was snowing, and the car studdered and almost died, then caught itself. And I kept on my way.

Well the next morning I leave to go somewhere and the car is dead. Nothing. Not even a dash light. So I unplug the fogs, thinking they might be draining the battery, and I have my dad give me a jump. Car starts right up. I go on my way, and leave the fog lights unplugged from any power source whatsoever.

Well, this past Sunday, car does the same thing. And I get it to start my push starting it.

Then today, I go out to start the car, starts up, chugs, then everything completely fricken dies. No dash lights. No windows. No blower for the heater. Nothing. But my interior light turns on, and I can turn my taillights on, but the headlights wont come on.

So, I go to replace my alternator. Thinking thats the culprit. As im replacing it, come to find out the tensioner bolt is completely gone. Get a new bolt, install new alternator. Have mom try and jump me. Nothing. Disconnect the battery, take it to go get tested, 591 cranking amps on a battery rated for 555 cold cranking amps. Battery is good.

Return 5 minutes later, install battery. Start thinking.

Think hell, maybe try starting it again. Car fires right up. WHAT THE f***.

Coming home tonight from work. Turn my brights on, car has a slight studder, but nothing more. I go on my way. Now Im home wondering when/where this car is gunna strand me.

Any help wud be great. Cud the fog light "rig" job with the relay cud have f***ed something up? Or cud it be something else? Lemme know guys. Thanks!!!
Modified by FinkenS14 at 10:00 PM 3/4/2009

[S13Joe]

Check fuses, especially the 75A alternator fuse. You could have blown that one (im not sure if the s14 has it though). If its blown call a nissan dealership, it should be $25.

[destroyyourmind]

I have extras I believe if you did blow it.

[DrifterXRPS13]

you could check the fuses but what i would do is check your grounds! i had a very similar problem like this in my integra and it turned out to be one of my main ground wires, the thread was no longer a thread, so the bolt couldn't hold down the ground wire, it would become loose everynow and then...

I found a new spot for it and bolted it down, perfect ever since.

[Dattebayo]

Your fog lights draw more current than those daytime running lights ever would.

I would check for a burnt wire somewhere making intermittent contact with the unibody somewhere...