I just bought a one owner white/beige leather SE W/SLE Package for 1400!

It'* got 170k on it, but it runs great!
It has a big problem that I just found, it looses all electrical power intermittently.

The other day I was driving it on the freeway @70MPH when suddenly I hear three chimes and the engine is dead. A quick shift into neutral and it started right up.

Same day while idling it just shut off. It restarted perfectly.

Next day I go out to the car unlock it with the factory keyless entry and got in.
I turned the key and nothing happened. The whole car was dead like it had no battery in it. then with the key in position 2 by itself, I heard a click from the passenger footwell and everything came on and it started right up.

Today....
Driving to a beach @ 55 MPH I change lanes and the car died.
I coasted into the parking lot and the car was DEAD. Completely dead. Nothing worked, interior lights, lighter, radio, headlights, even the horn did not work.
The power antenna was still in the up position from when I was cruising.
I checked the battery connections and they are fine.
I waited for 10 minutes then I got a burst of power, the lights came on, the antenna lowered... So I turned the ignition on ZAP everything went out again.
Finally after waiting and waiting the car came back to life and fired right up.
I drove directly home and it is now sitting until I can figure this problem out!

Has anyone experienced a problem like this before?
:?:

Remove and thoroughly clean each connection at each end of ALL battery cables. Both mating surfaces of each end.

I completely agree, sounds like a cable connection to me. I had similar issues with a Buick and the terminals were corroded. Just don't check the ends on the battery, check 'em on the other end too -- also check the fuse panel in the engine compartment, the relay compartment, etc.

I had similar problems.

Peel back the carpet on the driver'* side floor. You will find a wire harness. A part of the harness is a grounding block. Remove the plastic cover, and make sure you remove the corosion and spray it with some wire grease to prevent any more from forming. Might not be your problem now. But I will be certain this would need to be done anyway.

Let us know how it goes

For about a week, I had to drive around with the carpet peeled back and this harness sticking up. When my car died, I would put it in nuetral, then wiggle this harness. and the car would start up fine. Ever since I properly fixed it, I have not hard one problem.

You might check to make sure the battery terminals are not loose. Also check acid level in the battery.
I had a similar problem with my 1999 SSEi shortly after I bought it. Turned out the lead terminal that you thread the screw into had rotting acid between the plastic and the lead and the lead broke away from the battery, but not enough to turn since it was still 'locked' in place by the plastic around the sides.

are you losing power to EVERYTHING, or just interior stuff, and your fuel pump?

EVERYTHING.

Don't forget there is a ground on the ICM bracket [located right next to the battery]. Make sure you clean that all up real good. Not to mention the alternator wires, and of course the already mentioned .


-justin

the do not pay any attention to my previous post. Not your problem.