No start, Headlight relay Clicking

[Achelea]

I was driving home the other night and noticed my headlights were steadily getting dimmer. We heard a bark and the headlights got real bright. I turned it off and the car was pretty much dead.

So I look and it looks like my power steering pump exploded and took my alternator with it. I get a replacement Power steering pump, and buy a new alternator from Autozone. The battery was charged over a night or so. Everything gets plugged in and seems to be just fine. Headlights are nice and bright. (Dead alt was 65 amp and the new one was 75) So I didn't pay any mind. So I drove back to my mom in law's and shut it off. I turn the lights on and they seem bright. I go to turn the motor over and Nothing. It acts like a dead battery. And there is an rapid clicking coming from the relays. I get out and look and start pulling relays. The clicking stops when I pulled the headlight relay. I tried swapping it with another 12 volt, and it does it again.

No start, and no headlights. Battery went from acting like it was nice and charged to dead.

Any Ideas?

 

[my dreamt dsm]

I had a similar problem once. I never quite figure it out. But from what I did was I added another ground to the alternator and replace my starter. And if I was to take off the extra ground wire to the alt. it wouldn't start.
Seems like you have a short somewhere! Good luck with your findings!

 

[Achelea]

The new alternator came with a screw in the body that the old alternator didn't. Could that be a ground screw? I'll try to get pics some how in the morning. I NEED this to work.

 

[josh38127]

Pull your headlight relay. Try to start the car. I sounds like your shorting out in the head light circuit. check your headlighting circuit wires and where they plug to headlight for PS fuild and bear spots on them.I'll bet thats the problem

 

[Achelea]

I pulled the battery and cleaned the terminals. And she started right up.

The relay was clicking due to low voltage.

Keep your contacts clean boys!

Of course I'm still gonna watch that powersteering pump and check the level.