C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Lights flickering at idle...Please help!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 8, 2007 | 11:47 PM
  #1  
2blklt4's Avatar
2blklt4
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 768
Likes: 6
From: Newport Beach, Southern California
Default Lights flickering at idle...Please help!

Hi,

Got an TR`98 mn6 27000 miles.
Noticed that at idle head lights and all interior lights including dash lights
flicker and every 2 seconds almost turn off for a fraction of a second.
Idle is always constant, no fluctuations at all, even when lights are flickering.
I noticed that my whining fuel pump would whine and not whine in tandem with the flickering lights....
Any ideeas as to what this might be?

Thanx

Last edited by 2blklt4; Sep 9, 2007 at 01:50 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2007 | 02:28 AM
  #2  
DeeGee's Avatar
DeeGee
Tech Contributor
20 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Are your battery cables tight and clean? Have you had the battery checked under load?
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2007 | 06:08 PM
  #3  
tramminc's Avatar
tramminc
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 20
From: boston mass
Default

is your drive belt loose
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2007 | 07:34 PM
  #4  
2blklt4's Avatar
2blklt4
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 768
Likes: 6
From: Newport Beach, Southern California
Default

i was thinking alternator but...
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2007 | 09:36 PM
  #5  
flynbya2's Avatar
flynbya2
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Default

My guess is battery connections,possibly alternator or starter,but definately electrical connection.
It happened to me the exact same way.That was the issue,but I had to work to figure it out.
I replaced the battery with an exide orbital Gel battery for no leak issue.The problem,for me,was that the holes drilled for the terminal were not drilled quite deep enough.
I could crank the terminal bolt down so hard I thought it may strip,but because it was not drilled deep enough it would bottom out and "feel" tight............but it was not. The lights still flickered....

The fix for me was adding a copper washer(the same ones used to go from brake lines to caliper)to the mix.

I only typed all this so maybe someone could benefit from what was a frustrating issue for me for some time.

It may or may not be your problem,but it sure sounds similar to me

Last edited by flynbya2; Sep 9, 2007 at 09:39 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2007 | 09:17 PM
  #6  
2blklt4's Avatar
2blklt4
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 768
Likes: 6
From: Newport Beach, Southern California
Default

Originally Posted by flynbya2
My guess is battery connections,possibly alternator or starter,but definately electrical connection.
It happened to me the exact same way.That was the issue,but I had to work to figure it out.
I replaced the battery with an exide orbital Gel battery for no leak issue.The problem,for me,was that the holes drilled for the terminal were not drilled quite deep enough.
I could crank the terminal bolt down so hard I thought it may strip,but because it was not drilled deep enough it would bottom out and "feel" tight............but it was not. The lights still flickered....

The fix for me was adding a copper washer(the same ones used to go from brake lines to caliper)to the mix.

I only typed all this so maybe someone could benefit from what was a frustrating issue for me for some time.

It may or may not be your problem,but it sure sounds similar to me

Wow you were dead on right....one of the connections was loose.
The idiot who last time replaced the battery stripped the bolt trying to tighten it....so he left it loose.
I tightened but not too much because like i said bolt is stripped but tight enough to make the problem go away. Thank you!

Question to all Forum members:
Can that stripped bolt be replaced or the whole wire with the bolt attached to it needs to be replaced?
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2007 | 09:30 PM
  #7  
minitech's Avatar
minitech
Safety Car
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 37
Default

Worked for me too. I had this subtle flicker of the radio/clock/temp lights mostly at idle. The positive battery lead was a little loose and tightening it fixed it. Thanks!!
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2007 | 09:51 PM
  #8  
flynbya2's Avatar
flynbya2
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Default

Originally Posted by 2blklt4
Wow you were dead on right....one of the connections was loose.
The idiot who last time replaced the battery stripped the bolt trying to tighten it....so he left it loose.
I tightened but not too much because like i said bolt is stripped but tight enough to make the problem go away. Thank you!

Question to all Forum members:
Can that stripped bolt be replaced or the whole wire with the bolt attached to it needs to be replaced?
Yes,you can get the little buggers at your local auto parts store

With a little fenagling you can work them in the cable ends for the win!
I just hope it is not your battery terminal that is stripped
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
Old Sep 10, 2007 | 10:09 PM
  #9  
2blklt4's Avatar
2blklt4
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 768
Likes: 6
From: Newport Beach, Southern California
Default

Originally Posted by flynbya2
Yes,you can get the little buggers at your local auto parts store

With a little fenagling you can work them in the cable ends for the win!
I just hope it is not your battery terminal that is stripped
It`s the bolt that is stripped....now if someone would tell me the exact bolt size would be great
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2007 | 10:29 PM
  #10  
flynbya2's Avatar
flynbya2
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Default

Originally Posted by 2blklt4
It`s the bolt that is stripped....now if someone would tell me the exact bolt size would be great
You know, I am not sure.......

But they are labeled"battery terminal bolts "at Kragen

You can tell they are the right ones when you see them
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2015 | 09:58 PM
  #11  
Blac Avy's Avatar
Blac Avy
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 177
Likes: 12
From: Clinton Twp, Mi
Default

Originally Posted by flynbya2
You know, I am not sure.......

But they are labeled"battery terminal bolts "at Kragen

You can tell they are the right ones when you see them
I had the infamous lights flickering. Turned out to be the battery cables were loose. Tightened them up, all is well!!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Lights flickering at idle...Please help!





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:17 AM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE