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1991 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 4DR Electrical System

Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 CHEVROLET TRUCK
I own a 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier RS 4 Door. It is a 6 cylinder engine, and the mileage is 190373. I was wondering if you can help me. My cars Battery Light will come on if the engine is up or over 4000 RPM. And my taillights will stay on all the time even if the pedal is not depressed. The mechanic I took it to says its a ground, but my dad tells me that it's my brake light switch thats keeping the brake lights on all the time. I dont know a thing on how to fix this so I came to you guys. Can you help me?
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Sunday, March 4th, 2007 AT 9:37 AM

20 Replies

Tiny
CHEVY22
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,375 POSTS
LETS TACKLE THE BRAKE LIGHTS FIRST AS THEY WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY, YOUR DAD SOUNDS LIKE HES ON THE MONEY WITH THE CRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, THEY ARE CHEAP, LIKE 10-12 BUCKS AND REPLACED IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES, HAVE HIM DO THAT AND GET BACK TO US
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Sunday, March 4th, 2007 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
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I was more concerned about the battery light coming on at 4000 RPM and over.
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Sunday, March 4th, 2007 AT 2:50 PM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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OK, CHECK BATTERY VOLTAGE
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Sunday, March 4th, 2007 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
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  • 31 POSTS
[quote="CavalierDriver65"]

Ok, I installed the new brake light switch and the taillights are working great now. But is there any different reasons such as grounds that are causing the car to kill itself all the time?
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Friday, March 9th, 2007 AT 7:49 PM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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It still dies all of the time, ? How long? Ask your dad if he knows hoe to do the old school draw test, with a test light and a test light on the b=neg battery cable
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Friday, March 9th, 2007 AT 10:48 PM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
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The mechanic I had look at it said to put a wire on a bolt on the engine block and ground it to the body of the car. Could that solve it probably?
P.S sorry to bother you all the time.
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Saturday, March 10th, 2007 AT 6:55 PM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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It is possible especially if there is one missing or burned, and its not a bother, thats why im here but im wondering if something else is drawing off the battery, is anything else staying on
jim
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Saturday, March 10th, 2007 AT 7:10 PM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
  • MEMBER
  • 31 POSTS
If you mean warning lights, no nothing else is staying on. I just don't understand. I'd connect it with another car and it would run like a dream. But once I take off the cables off of my car, it will run for a few seconds, start struggling and then poof, it's dead again.
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Sunday, March 11th, 2007 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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Where does the neg cable go, have you checked that yet, make sure it is still on the eng and not broken or corroded, if you have to jump it again, try just removing the neg cable and see if it dies again

jim
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Sunday, March 11th, 2007 AT 9:44 AM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
  • MEMBER
  • 31 POSTS
Ok, i'm going up to my car today. (Its parked at a garage now) so ill hoist it up and check where the cable goes. Thanks so much for your help and ill get back to you if nothing occurs.
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Sunday, March 11th, 2007 AT 9:47 AM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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Let me know either way

Jim
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Sunday, March 11th, 2007 AT 9:59 AM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
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Also, I was wondering how to make my horn work again. There is no fuse in the box for the horn and I wan wondering how to get this fixed.
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Sunday, March 11th, 2007 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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Put a fuse in it and see what happens, my guess is someone may have had a problem with the horn and pulled the fuse, maybe it kept blowing the fuse, any luck with your other issue? I would stick to that right now, get ya on the road first then we can tackle the horn
jim
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Sunday, March 11th, 2007 AT 10:55 AM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
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Ok ill fix the charging issue first. Thanks for your help and I will get back to you.
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Sunday, March 11th, 2007 AT 10:57 AM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
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  • 31 POSTS
Ok ill fix the charging issue first. Thanks for your help and I will get back to you.[/Quote:f1ad0388c9]

Well I went to the garage to check the negative terminal cable, and I wasn't able to see underneath the car due to snow. I was able to get a booster pack and fire up the car. I went to start the car up and it worked fine but the absolute minute I took the negative booster off, the car died. I hope that was enough info for now until I can get more
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Sunday, March 11th, 2007 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
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  • 31 POSTS
Ok ill fix the charging issue first. Thanks for your help and I will get back to you.[/Quote:7ac56e011f]

Well I went to the garage to check the negative terminal cable, and I wasn't able to see underneath the car due to snow. I was able to get a booster pack and fire up the car. I went to start the car up and it worked fine but the absolute minute I took the negative booster off, the car died. I hope that was enough info for now until I can get more[/quote:7ac56e011f]

Hi. Me again, I realized already that my alternator was burnt out, but that scrap guy at the garage says that there might be a problem with the ignition system that may cause the alternator to burn out. Could he be right?
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Monday, March 12th, 2007 AT 9:28 PM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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Scrap guy, did you get the alternator used?
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Monday, March 12th, 2007 AT 10:32 PM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
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Well sort of, there was another cavalier in the field for scrap where I pulled the alternator from and I have another alternator to put in that I pulled from a 1990 gmc safari.
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Monday, March 12th, 2007 AT 10:34 PM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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The used parts will have you chasing your tail, can you afford a reman, they should be cheap and you have a warranty
Jim
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Monday, March 12th, 2007 AT 10:37 PM
Tiny
CAVALIERDRIVER65
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Don't Worry about the charging problem anymore. I got rid of the cavalier and I now have a 1991 chevrolet Blazer 4X4
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 8:46 PM

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