My new annoyance: Just within the last couple months, sometimes my car acts like it isn't getting enough juice. When I push the brakes my headlights dim. When I have my turn signal on my headlights flash. This doesn't happen all the time though. Today on my way to work the problem went away while I was driving. I had the battery tested - good I had the alt tested - good I cleaned the battery terminals What else should I check? Could the alt be intermittently good? Thanks, MARK
I had something similar happening w/ my car I changed all of the fuses even if they where good. changed all of them and the problem went away. try it and let me know
Check every chassis ground you have. I used to have headlights dim every time I'd depress the clutch. Cause - missing ground from engine to body.
Have you changed any brake/turn signal/back up bulbs lately? One wrong one will cause the things you are experiencing to happen, believe it or not. I've done it. Recently.
Like BadBrad sez: Make sure all the ground connections in the car's electrical system are properly grounded ! :TU:
I haven't changed any bulbs recently. I think it's still strange how the problem goes away while driving. I might get to check the grounds tonight after work.
voltage regulator?? does that alt have an internal one...? It might go away as the output/rpm increases(while driving) i had dodges that would do the same thing....
I believe the regulator is on the inside. Let me clear up the driving thing: While driving at 2800 rpm the problem will still be there but then magically go away. But sometimes it doesn't go away and the next time I start up the car it acts like it isn't going to turn over.
Now I've done it. My plans were to troubleshoot this weekend but my plans quickly got absorbed by the kid's activities, etc, etc. I cleaned and checked all my chassis grounds but still saw the problem on Friday. I didn't drive it again until Monday night with no problems. Today I went to start it and lost all power, no interior lights or nothing. The engine turned over once then it looked like someone pulled the plug on me. I'll check my fuses tonight and my starter connection. MARK
im saying"voltage regulator "after 72 if im correct like my skylark it is on the back firewall kinda passenger cener.mine did same thing .changed it and went away.did it when i replaced pretty much everything under my hood.plus i did everything at different times to see the differences.plus mine tested ok. to but replaced with new and it fixed it.still keep old one for emergency purposes.i hope my exprience my help.
Oh, okay I think know what you're talking about. My firewall has the white gadget with a brown wire going to it and from it. I did a search on Advanced Auto Parts' web site and the only thing for regulator they show is the one in the alternator. Well anyway, I have no voltage to regulate at all now so I need to figure out where the short is first.
When you say the lights blink, do you mean they go completely out and then back on, or are they pulsating in what looks like a normal sinus rythym? :laugh: 'cuz if they are pulsating I'd go back to the voltage regulator.
Well put brad,mine would never go completely out.plus if i rember right my dash lights also did it.my regulator is square shape about 2.5 inch sq.with like 4-6 wires on one side.
Im going to look at my pics to see if i see mine in any of my pics.my car is in storage right now so i cant take a pic.but if i do i will post a pic in a few minutes.but if i recall mine was a metal or tin box with i think 4-6 wires that clip in.and mine is i wanna say right behind my pcv valve and just left of wiper motor.i will be right back. alright i found a real crapy pic,but i see it.mine is axactly just left of wiper motor ,but on my pic there is another thing in between which is alot smaller of a unit which i have no idea what that is.(wires are going in from the bottom)voltage reg.should be right to the left .plus the wires come in threw drivers side of the regulator.and also has like this copper looking cylinderl(chapstick size roughly)connected to the top of regulator. for color my original was pitted metal,and new one is like silver medal. plus if you have a internal regulator inside of the alt..i think you would have one or two extra wires going to alt.
