Hi all, i recently aquired a 98 cavalier and it has an interesting issue. Sometimes when you turn the headlights or running lights on, something shorts out and kills all the lights including the dash and dome lights. However, the blinkers and brake lights still work. Also, when the lights go out it seems to affect the idle control as well, because the car will stall. It will crank amd start, but immediately stall. Come back later and it works just fine. Any ideas?

 

I'd start by cleaning both battery terminals and also where the battery ground cable attaches to the engine or frame. You may have a questionable connection.

 

It seems to me if that were the case, i would lose all power, or at the very least, the power that draws the highest load, i.e. the starter...

 

I'd start with checking your headlight switch. Most of the problems you mentioned ho through that switch. Maybe a melted connector.