Lights pulsing

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Dec 24, 2003 | 08:24 AM

dppeaden

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: May 2001

Posts: 452

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From: Griffin GA

Lights pulsing

I think I have a bad ground. All my lights are pulsing. Head lights, Radio, Cluster. Where to start?

Dec 24, 2003 | 08:46 AM

AGENT 86

Team Owner

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 20,293

Likes: 240

From: Summerland B.C. Canada

Re: Lights pulsing (dppeaden)

Are your voltage readings steady. A bad alternator could cause this effect.
:cheers:

Dec 24, 2003 | 10:43 AM

vinnies87

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 9,884

Likes: 3

From: Magnolia Mississippi

St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07

Re: Lights pulsing (AGENT 86)

Quote:

Are your voltage readings steady. A bad alternator could cause this effect.
:cheers:

also, the power connector from the alt to the batter could be broken (partly) , check it out

Dec 24, 2003 | 11:03 AM

62C1

Instructor

Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 154

Likes: 1

From: Azle TX

Re: Lights pulsing (dppeaden)

I had this happening a couple months ago. I figured it was the voltage regulator in the alternator acting up. You probably will notice your voltage readings swinging wildly. You might try cleaning and retightning the connections at the alternator, battery and ground. I did this but the problem was still there. Mine cleared up on it's own after a few weeks but I think my alternator is probably on borrowed time. You can have the alternator rebuilt by an electrical shop. The price I was quoted ($60.) was less than the cost of a "lifetime" rebuilt unit that everyone seems to have problems with. The shop will install HD parts (diodes, bearings, regulator, etc).

Dec 24, 2003 | 11:56 AM

jfb

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 54,124

Likes: 30

From: Cincinnati, Oh USA

Re: Lights pulsing (dppeaden)

Most likely your voltage regulator in your alternator is oscillating. With the engine running and the lights pulsing, unplug the connector on your alternator and see if the pulsing stops. If it does, your alternator is the cause.

Dec 29, 2003 | 01:22 PM

98NYFINESTVETTE

Le Mans Master

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 5,446

Likes: 1

From: 10.70 @ 124mph, Stock Bottom End @ 3620lbs, ECS Racing Team Member. The 1st NMCA LSX Index Rumble World Champion. 2011,12,13 Champion

Re: Lights pulsing (dppeaden)

I had the same problem with my 89. It was the plug on the right headlight. The plug was actually melting causing a bad ground. Hope this helps. I replaced the plug, respliced the wires to the new plug.

Dec 30, 2003 | 03:13 AM

cash's90

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 198

Likes: 0

From: Yucaipa CA

Re: Lights pulsing (dppeaden)

Same problem on my '90. I first replaced the alternator as the one I had was the original or a very old replacement. Slight improvement.
Next, I followed the smaller cable from my battery positive terminal (not the one to my starter solenoid) to the stack of wire terminals gathered on a stud located between the batteryand firewall. I removed and cleaned all of the terminals. I applied Permatex di-electric tune-up grease to protect the terminals form future corrosion. This provided an almost complete fix.
The complete fix was accomplished when I did the same for the five grounds attached to my frame rails in the engine compartment.

Dec 30, 2003 | 09:21 AM

Mark-44

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 1,257

Likes: 4

From: Granite City Illinois

Re: Lights pulsing (dppeaden)

Quote:

Where to start?

Start with the battery terminal connections. Disconnect them (negative first)
clean them using a wire brush and then soak them in a water/baking soda solution. Wire brush the the battery recepticals and charge the battery.
After the battery is fully charged reconnected the wires (positive first).

My car had the same symptoms you describe and cleaning the battery terminals on my car solved the problem. LOL.