Need Help Please Strange Problem

[toadleyb]

I was just driving home from work and the car started to sputter. I step on the gas and it dies. Luckily I was only a couple of blocks from home. I also noticed that the tripmeter/odometer was blinking off and on. I then came to a traffic light and noticed that when I step on the brake the odometer goes out completely. I got home and looked under the dash thinking maybe the brake pedal was pinching or pulling on a wire. There is a switch on the brake pedal. If i turn the car to the on position but don't start it (actually it won't start now) the odometer stays on. As soon as I depress that switch the odometer goes out and comes right back on when I release it. What is that switch and could it cause the engine to act like it is or even keep the car from starting?

The car is a 2000 GT.

Thanks for any help any one can offer.

 

[Dan_Soprano]

I was just driving home from work and the car started to sputter. I step on the gas and it dies. Luckily I was only a couple of blocks from home. I also noticed that the tripmeter/odometer was blinking off and on. I then came to a traffic light and noticed that when I step on the brake the odometer goes out completely. I got home and looked under the dash thinking maybe the brake pedal was pinching or pulling on a wire. There is a switch on the brake pedal. If i turn the car to the on position but don't start it (actually it won't start now) the odometer stays on. As soon as I depress that switch the odometer goes out and comes right back on when I release it. What is that switch and could it cause the engine to act like it is or even keep the car from starting?

The car is a 2000 GT.

Thanks for any help any one can offer.

that switch is what brings the brake lights on. Sounds like you got a short somwhere. Hopefully someone else can chime in here that has had a similar problem.

 

[toadleyb]

Duh me! Of course that is the brake light switch. More oddities that are happening. The brake lights do not work at all. If i turn the key to accessory and turn on the radio, when I step on the brakes the odometer goes out, the light on the radio goes out but the radio keeps playing, and the dome light goes out.

 

[Superhereaux]

does the odometer flash straight lines across '-------'?

 

[toadleyb]

no the odometer just goes out completely and then comes back on when I release the brake. It definitely seems like a short somewhere but finding it is going to be gangs of fun.

 

[lightblade]

check all the fuses under the dash and under the hood first thats a start

 

[toadleyb]

I am in the process of doing that right now. It is not just the brake that does this, if I turn on the headlights none of the lights on the interior work including the dash lights. If I hit the power window switch everything goes out. My windows are down and they won't go up.

Thanks for the feedback keep the ideas coming.

Todd

 

[toadleyb]

The plot thickens. Turn the key to accessory and hit the brake or power window button and all the interior lights go out and the fog lights come on! Any electrical wizards on here????

 

[twogts4us]

Sounds like the alt and battery have died.

 

[toadleyb]

definitely not the battery. Car cranks fine it just won't start. It has plenty of juice. Guess I make a call to the dealership tomorrow. I am glad I purchased the Premium Care Warranty. Guess I will see just how good it is! Thanks for the help all!

Todd