Car shut off and now the dash lights wont even come on.
Asked by GuruV6X7V Sep 12, 2018 at 11:46 AM about the 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS FWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I was on the way home from buying a 1999 Monte Carlo I have no idea if the
temp gauge was working or not but showed 260 the car shut off and a puff of
smoke came out of the hood and now the dash lights won't come on and it
won't even act like I am turning the key.
4 Answers
Did the belt come off? Sounds like it overheated and the battery went dead at the same time. If not check battery, ( over 3 years old replace) connections, coolant level.
the battery is very new and i figured it overheated but that wouldn't explain why the car acted like there was not even a battery in it when I tried to restart it and i checked the coolant and it was pretty full
The battery is relatively new but is it relatively good, that puff could have been your battery exploding it's not common but it happens. At any rate let's start there take the battery out and have it load tested at your parts store, if it's good recharge and reinstall next check both battery cables ( both ends), check for fuse links they may be located on the starter battery stud, on the firewall, or on the pos cable. If ok check chassis ground by putting a jumper from neg battery terminal to sheet metal you may have to try several locations.
