I'm curious if I've diagnosed my problem the right way. My car is in good shape all except I discovered the headlights and dash lights flickering when it idles. I'm pretty sure it needs a new alternator, but wanted to ask before I just jump to it and buy one. Help please?!?! :? BTW I'll get pics of the tint soon, I keep washing the car then it rains or snows!! Looks sweet tho!

By "flickering", do you mean dimming and pulsing with the motor revs at idle? If so, then your diagnosis is likely correct.

Would checking the battery cable and terminals make sense too? I was thinking maybe its just a bad wire or some corrosion?

When I bought the car it died soon after (I was pissed) but it was bc it had a bad battery that imploded (if that makes sense. But one cable was replaced bc it was carroded a little from the acid leaking out a little from the top. LASH: Yeah that'* what it'* doing... pulsating with the engine... but it does it with the turn signals too. When the signal is on you can hear the engine pulsating also. Otherwise it'* just the lights when the car is setting at a light in or out of park doesn't matter. But i need to get this fixed bc it'* so cold here in MI it'* not good for the car bc even when you turn it over sometimes after a cold cold night it turns for a few seconds b4 it finally catches and starts.

I'm with CDS and Jr'* on this one.

Easiest way to test it is to head over to Autozone/Advance...play the silly girl routine and have them do a free check on it.

Stop it Bill, were you planning on watching through the hedges. They did it for me for free

I am getting aweful fluctuations on my voltmeter. I just got a new alternator. I'm thinking it is the battery since they are supposed to be changed in pairs. I'm thinking the weak battery is straining the alternator...but I don't want to spend money on the battery since my car'* days with me are numbered. Plus my alternator replacement is covered for one year 30k...so when the alt dies again because of the battery I am all set

i know i had to replace my alt and batt in nov. the battery was weak which caused the voltage regulator in the alt to fry trying to recharge the dying battery.