Odd electrical .....symptoms of?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
Odd electrical .....symptoms of?
Here is what I have happening.
1) at start up when engine is cold - I start the car - fires right up - the needle on the volt guage fluctuates rather severly (say plus or minus 1-2 volts) this is rapid bouncing of needle. Once car has warmed up or travelled a very short distance - rock solid needle at 14 volts.
2) when moving - with headlights on - I get flickering of headlights (almost like a loose connection) when the headlights are out (1-2 TENTHS of a second) both turn signal indicators on the dash are on and vice versa.
There is no other symptoms, dash lighting seems to flicker as well but much much less noticable.
So the question is (are)
a) loose connection?
b) bad ground?
c) bad voltage regulator?
d) short?
e) bad alternator?
All Im trying to do is make sure the smoke stays in the wires.
1) at start up when engine is cold - I start the car - fires right up - the needle on the volt guage fluctuates rather severly (say plus or minus 1-2 volts) this is rapid bouncing of needle. Once car has warmed up or travelled a very short distance - rock solid needle at 14 volts.
2) when moving - with headlights on - I get flickering of headlights (almost like a loose connection) when the headlights are out (1-2 TENTHS of a second) both turn signal indicators on the dash are on and vice versa.
There is no other symptoms, dash lighting seems to flicker as well but much much less noticable.
So the question is (are)
a) loose connection?
b) bad ground?
c) bad voltage regulator?
d) short?
e) bad alternator?
All Im trying to do is make sure the smoke stays in the wires.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
From: Arlington Texas
Re: Odd electrical .....symptoms of? (fauxrs)
Man! I hate these type of problems with a passion@!@#$# To answer your question, I know this is a lot of help, but any of the problems you mentioned could be the culprit. It could also be a loose connection at the battery, or a battery shorting out periodically. One time I had a broken fuse that would make and break. Almost never found that one. Unfortunately its the process of elimination.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Odd electrical .....symptoms of? (fauxrs)
The regulator is internal to the alternator...
there are two wires on the reg that plug in the side...looks like this --
so that One of them goes constantly to power, the other goes to an idiot light the other side of which goes to switched power....
turn on ignition...idiot light lights....engine not running so alt is not putting out.....start engine....rev up a bit....light should go completely out...and alt of course should be puting out 14+ steady volts...
if either one of these two wires is not connected...trouble....
should measure essentially alt output voltage on all legs of the connectors...
as well as the output stud....
only time 14 volts disappears off one leg of the regulator is when the lite is lit, indicating no charge....
so with switch off, ONE had power, other is no volts,....switch on...all alt wires have power, the last one to get power is fed through the dash light...
you could also check for bad grounds, engine to frame, etc...but that would hinder starting...loose connections at horn relay under driver's fender on liner....
instrumentation grounds....but I doubt it somehow....
.
GENE
there are two wires on the reg that plug in the side...looks like this --
so that One of them goes constantly to power, the other goes to an idiot light the other side of which goes to switched power....
turn on ignition...idiot light lights....engine not running so alt is not putting out.....start engine....rev up a bit....light should go completely out...and alt of course should be puting out 14+ steady volts...
if either one of these two wires is not connected...trouble....
should measure essentially alt output voltage on all legs of the connectors...
as well as the output stud....
only time 14 volts disappears off one leg of the regulator is when the lite is lit, indicating no charge....
so with switch off, ONE had power, other is no volts,....switch on...all alt wires have power, the last one to get power is fed through the dash light...
you could also check for bad grounds, engine to frame, etc...but that would hinder starting...loose connections at horn relay under driver's fender on liner....
instrumentation grounds....but I doubt it somehow....
.
GENE
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Odd electrical .....symptoms of? (fauxrs)
Use the KISS pricipal. Keep It Simple Stupid. I know this is oversimplifying, but I'd start with the Ground first. Check everything. Normally, I'd say it was the alternator/regulator. But that will cause more of a dimming headlight situation. The erratic behavior points more to a vibration caused problem (causing a loose connection). So I'd look for bad grounds or connections. If that doesn't bring about anything, go deeper. Look at the alternator.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: MALDEN MA
Re: Odd electrical .....symptoms of? (fauxrs)
Let me know if you figure it out..I have the same problem..I start it the needle flickers to 12-13 volts and the idiot light glows dim...replaced the alternator twice..No better..I check the voltage at the battery..14.5 volts check at the alternator same thing....I did notice if I hit the brakes the idiot light will shut off...After I get going it will glow dim again...I haven't really worried about it since it is charging..But it is a major distraction...Any thoughts..I have been told that the current might be backfeeding from the brake lights....Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 1
From: Billings MT
Re: Odd electrical .....symptoms of? (fauxrs)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fix this before you keep driving !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had the identicle problem, and my car caught on fire
because of it! The reason the headlights go out is because
they are getting way to much juice. There is a relay that
turns them off if they get too hot. You have a short some
where that is causing your alternator to overcharge. My
short was at teh starter where a wire had moved by the
head shield and got melted over time, it finally shorted
and fried my entire wiring harness. Make sure you get this
fixed before it costs you $$$$ like it did me, and possibly
your car. :eek: :eek:
I had the identicle problem, and my car caught on fire
because of it! The reason the headlights go out is because
they are getting way to much juice. There is a relay that
turns them off if they get too hot. You have a short some
where that is causing your alternator to overcharge. My
short was at teh starter where a wire had moved by the
head shield and got melted over time, it finally shorted
and fried my entire wiring harness. Make sure you get this
fixed before it costs you $$$$ like it did me, and possibly
your car. :eek: :eek:
