Help! Had to buy new battery for my 97R wagon. Drove around town for an hour after changing it out, came home, and car died dead dead 100 yards from house after hitting two very small mud puddles in the road. Nothing would come, no lights whatsoever. Like a cable had come loose from the new battery. Checked cables. Tight. Tried ignition an hour later, but still dead dead. Took battery out and charged it over night, read 13.16 volts. Put it back in this morning and started right up. Drove it to house, two hundred yards away. Fifty feet from house it quit, but this time the instrument lights stayed on and I hadn't hit any holes. Tried starting it ten minutes later and it fired right up. Drove it up to garage. While it was still running I checked alternator, which was putting out 13.97 volts. After I turned it off the battery registered 12.8 volts.

Could this possibly be that fickle ignition switch, the hot battery burning a contact? I really need to know what happened because if I don't I will never trust this car again in town or on the freeway. I'm seventy-five and haven't gotten around yet to getting a cell phone (yes, I know, dumb on my part). I don't want paranoia sitting in the passenger seat beside me every time I drive it. Dick

Find yourself a cheap cell phone, there are some that are almost cheap (no internet access). Keep a charger for it in the car, leave it off at all times like I do, and use it only to make calls.

Check the red wires to the battery, are the cables hot to the touch? They could be corroded.

When reconnecting a battery, I have heard the fuel pump engage (no key in the ignition), so you want to check the fuel pump relay.

Checking the ingnition switch is easy, just put the key in and if it works when you turn it to pos II & III, then it is OK. Try jiggling the key with the engine running and see if it makes a difference, if the engine turns off then replace the switch.

Check the wire connections at the alternator for anything that could be loose.

What kind of charger do you have that charges a battery to 13+ volts?? Not good. It should be 2 amps or less.

Could be the ignition switch.

In addition, I suggest checking all battery and engine grounds for looseness and corrosion.

I doubt any of these would cause a sudden stall but is your fuel system in good working order? Fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator? Have you tested your cam position sensor and coil?

I had a similar issue with my 1992 240 last summer. I replaced the ignition switch and the problem never occurred again.

I know what you mean for the paranoia of sudden power loss... in my case it happened on the interstate doing 60 mph! I made sure that it was only going to happen once!

It is time to get a cell phone, join AAA, and get chummy with a dealer.