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Need some help, "stuck" in Vegas

ColinColinColinColinColinColin
Drove out to Vegas last night from LA. Best thing ever. Buuuuut, I have an issue I could use some help with. Thank you everyone in advance. Here's the story.

Quick version: I think (hope?) I just need a new battery and am looking for brand/type recommendations. Pretty much stock 1600 plus I'm running an amp and a stereo head unit in case that info is relevant. This is also BY FAR the longest I've ever driven the car. Ideally looking for one that could easily be purchased at auto zone or whatever as I would need it today or tomorrow.

Detailed version: Car was driving better than it ever had the entire time. Stopped in Barstow for some food/gas and it stalled in the In N Out parking lot. Would not start again. Turning the key did nothing. No noise, no attempt to turn over. Headlights and stereo still worked normally but the car made no attempt to start. I then turned the headlights off and it started. Weird I thought but I kept driving, making sure to keep the engine running. Got to Vegas, parked and of course checked if it would start. Nothing. Totally dead.

With my zero car knowledge, I'm planning on buying a new battery. Does that sound like the right move/diagnosis? This is the battery that came with the car when I bought it and the precious owner didn't seem to give a s#!t about the car so it wouldn't surprise me if it was dead or whatever.

Again, a huge thank you in advance for any help. From what little I know about cars I believe I should also be concerned that it's the alternator but I figure I'll wait to hear from you guys before I worry about that.

1957 CMC(Flared Speedster)
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ColinColinColinColinColinColin
Drove out to Vegas last night from LA. Best thing ever. Buuuuut, I have an issue I could use some help with. Thank you everyone in advance. Here's the story.

Quick version: I think (hope?) I just need a new battery and am looking for brand/type recommendations. Pretty much stock 1600 plus I'm running an amp and a stereo head unit in case that info is relevant. This is also BY FAR the longest I've ever driven the car. Ideally looking for one that could easily be purchased at auto zone or whatever as I would need it today or tomorrow.

Detailed version: Car was driving better than it ever had the entire time. Stopped in Barstow for some food/gas and it stalled in the In N Out parking lot. Would not start again. Turning the key did nothing. No noise, no attempt to turn over. Headlights and stereo still worked normally but the car made no attempt to start. I then turned the headlights off and it started. Weird I thought but I kept driving, making sure to keep the engine running. Got to Vegas, parked and of course checked if it would start. Nothing. Totally dead.

With my zero car knowledge, I'm planning on buying a new battery. Does that sound like the right move/diagnosis? This is the battery that came with the car when I bought it and the precious owner didn't seem to give a s#!t about the car so it wouldn't surprise me if it was dead or whatever.

Again, a huge thank you in advance for any help. From what little I know about cars I believe I should also be concerned that it's the alternator but I figure I'll wait to hear from you guys before I worry about that.

SHRSpeedster, SimonSHRSpeedster, Simon
Had this happen to my wife's Golf once, course it was taking the kids to school, not catching a show in Vegas.. Same symptoms, lights and stereo etc. worked, but as soon as you went to turn it over..DEAD, turned out it was a bad cell in the battery, you drive along for a bit and it would be fine next time you went to start. What happens when you have a dead cell in the battery is that sometimes when you put a heavy load on it ie: starter it actually shorts inside the battery and causes the symptoms you described.. You should be able to take it to a parts store and have them put a load test on the battery, before you spend good money on a new one..

hope this helps.
Gordon NicholsGordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member
Yeah, I was thinking about the alternator, too. It DID get him to Vegas, but then, the ignition takes very little juice to run it so it'll go and go as long as the lights aren't on. If the lights are on AND it keeps going AND the alternator light doesn't come on, then it's probably charging enough to do the job.

BUT! Have AAA check the alternator, too, just to be safe. I'm betting it's a dead cell in the battery. But then, I'm not a big bettor....... {;>)

It's a long way back from Vegas. Especially in the dark. With no lights. Don't ask me how I know........but if you do it with no lights, remember to go really fast. Except for those 12 miles before the CA state line. Just wait for dawn.
ColinColinColinColinColinColin
David - Thank you very much. If you're ever in Los Angeles, shoot me an email. Dinner is on me. I saw Justin today. He was great. Turned out it wasn't a battery issue at all but some sort of relay problem. He explained it in detal but the gist of it was that by the time the charge got to the starter, there were less than 10 volts and it couldn't turn over. He diagnosed and fixed that, installed a new battery (the old one was apparently the wrong size) and checked and topped off the fluids for about $200. Couldn't have been more painless and he was super friendly.

PLUS - It kept me an extra day in Vegas and as of 1am-ish I've won about $500. Blessing in disguise. ALSO a bunch of people gathered and got to watch me push start the car in the Mirage parking structure which they all seemed to thoroughly enjoy.

Thanks again everyone for the feedback and advice. It is genuinely appreciated.

David Stroud IM Roadster DDavid Stroud IM Roadster DOttawa Canada '83 IM Soob
That's almost reverse the route we did last year. It's quite doable.We shipped the car to Sacramento and did the PCH, LA, Vegas, Hoover Dam, the best parts of Route 66, Durango, Co., Taos, NM, down to Albuquerque, Amarillo, Tx, then East to Carlsile and up home to Ottawa. We leave for Key West next Wednesday. It's fun but would be more comfortable to know you had reliable along the way.
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