Houston, we have a problem...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
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Houston, we have a problem...
Ok...this cant be good...there is some sort of problem with either my wiring or my alternator...i am thinking its the Voltage Regulator..
Whenever the car is idle, whether in gear or not you can see the Volt gauge flickering...and then every once in a while it will drop down to a really low level for about 2 seconds and everything goes dim then it comes back and continues doing it.
i will get a video of this tonight...
Whenever the car is idle, whether in gear or not you can see the Volt gauge flickering...and then every once in a while it will drop down to a really low level for about 2 seconds and everything goes dim then it comes back and continues doing it.
i will get a video of this tonight...
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 233
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From: Lancaster, South Carolina
I agree with the battery cable idea. Always start with the least expensive stuff first. I have had problems before with remanufactured alternator. This last time I went with the new one and havent had any trouble for 2 yrs. It was worth the $$ and no hassle with taking it back to the parts store and being stranded. An inexpensive battery charger is a handy tool also, I was able to keep the same battery through 2 reman alts by charging it myself, again less hassle. Hope you don't have a wiring problem, those can be a bitch to find. 
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electrical problems are the sneakyest ones to pin point easely.
However, your symptoms sound like the ones I had few years ago.
Energy was surging suddently showing the gauge needle showing overcharging for few second then the diming draw immediately after...even my A/C was put himself at on "whoooooo a gosh had possessed my Bonnie" idle was fluctuate also from noirmal RPM to near 1600 trying to compensate the energy draw and surge.
Touching the brake pedal was making the car to shutdown and the DIC which was dead few years ago was producing a beep beeep beep steady alarm signal ...something I never taugh a beep would come from there.
had no more choice after changing the battery and the alternator to had it scanned by an auto electric expert.
there was few weak grounds and bad connexions in the electrical wires network in the shifter causing on and off symptomas.
A real costy nightmare...almost put the Bonnie to the death penalty that day.
good luck...hope this is a simple thing on your.
However, your symptoms sound like the ones I had few years ago.
Energy was surging suddently showing the gauge needle showing overcharging for few second then the diming draw immediately after...even my A/C was put himself at on "whoooooo a gosh had possessed my Bonnie" idle was fluctuate also from noirmal RPM to near 1600 trying to compensate the energy draw and surge.
Touching the brake pedal was making the car to shutdown and the DIC which was dead few years ago was producing a beep beeep beep steady alarm signal ...something I never taugh a beep would come from there.
had no more choice after changing the battery and the alternator to had it scanned by an auto electric expert.
there was few weak grounds and bad connexions in the electrical wires network in the shifter causing on and off symptomas.
A real costy nightmare...almost put the Bonnie to the death penalty that day.
good luck...hope this is a simple thing on your.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
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ok...i am now discovering that it is an intermittent problem...
i took a video...but unfortunately...or maybe fortunately..(im not sure yet) it was not doing it, but i made a video anyways...
i will make sure to get one when it does it..
Video HERE
But anyways, thanks for the responses...
FYI it is a remanufactured/rebuilt alternator that I bought from Mills Fleet Farm on Feb 5th, 2005, so its about 1.5 years old now....maybe its just that, but then again..i do only keep my negative battery connection finger tight.
I will tighten the connections and have the alternator and battery tested at Advance. So we will find out.
i took a video...but unfortunately...or maybe fortunately..(im not sure yet) it was not doing it, but i made a video anyways...
i will make sure to get one when it does it..
Video HERE
But anyways, thanks for the responses...
FYI it is a remanufactured/rebuilt alternator that I bought from Mills Fleet Farm on Feb 5th, 2005, so its about 1.5 years old now....maybe its just that, but then again..i do only keep my negative battery connection finger tight.
I will tighten the connections and have the alternator and battery tested at Advance. So we will find out.
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Certified GM nut
Joined: Jan 2004
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Can you have someone (buddy, sibling someone you can instruct?) to wiggle the positve battery connection just UNDER the connection while you watch the gauge? Keeping the negative only finger tight is asking for a problem, IMO. The 2 cable setup for the positive side has to be clean all the way thru, discovered that quite stupidly myself BTDT got the t shirt.
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True Car Nut
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,656
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From: Grand Rapids, Mi
When the voltage drops, is there any change in load? Anything just turn on? Does the idle speed vary also? Did you take apart and clean your cables and connections, or just tighten them?