Car dying when the lights are turned on?

JamesRR said

Excellent info here. Here is an update. Had to tow my little brother the other day because the car broke down. Absolutely no electronics work on the car. Battery is fully charged but nothing is working. Could the ammeter be fried? Is it worth bypassing the ammeter all together? Dont know where to start really. Dead as a door nail.

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If the car is totally dead (headlights will not come on at all), then the problem lies between the batttery and the in-harness splice.
Start by looking at:
1) the battery connections and the connections on the large lug on the starter relay
2) then the fusible link (can blow open and may be a sign that there is a developing short, which may be causing the 'headlights kill ignition' problem)
3) then move on to examine the firewall connector where the fusible link and its wire go through
4) then the ammeter and its connections
5) and then the harness splice in the dash.

BTW, why did you tow your little brother? Wouldn't it make more sense to tow the car? LOL...sorry...could not resist...