HELP, electrical problems
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 934
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
HELP, electrical problems
I have two strange electrical problems I can’t figure out why. It started happening about 1-½ years ago, it does not seem to effect performance or drivability but it is starting to bug me.
1. The little information screen cannot hold it’s last display. I like to keep it on Avg MPG or Oil Temp, but it does not seem to keep the settings. I can be out of the car for 10 minutes, get back in start her up and the display is back to Odometer and ave mpg is back to 0. Sometimes it can keep my last display setting but most of times it is back to odometer.
2. Once the engine is warmed up, the lights kind of dims/blinks as I idle at a red light. It can be seen clearly at night. The lights, instrument lights, kind of dims a little and comes right back up every 3 or 4 seconds at idle. With air on or off. You can see the idle dip about 300rpm like and it comes back up. I set my rpm up to 850 after the Heads and cam install but that did not fix the problems.
I have an aftermarket stereo system with two alpine amps and it kind of started after the installation but I cannot find out what the problem is.
1. The little information screen cannot hold it’s last display. I like to keep it on Avg MPG or Oil Temp, but it does not seem to keep the settings. I can be out of the car for 10 minutes, get back in start her up and the display is back to Odometer and ave mpg is back to 0. Sometimes it can keep my last display setting but most of times it is back to odometer.
2. Once the engine is warmed up, the lights kind of dims/blinks as I idle at a red light. It can be seen clearly at night. The lights, instrument lights, kind of dims a little and comes right back up every 3 or 4 seconds at idle. With air on or off. You can see the idle dip about 300rpm like and it comes back up. I set my rpm up to 850 after the Heads and cam install but that did not fix the problems.
I have an aftermarket stereo system with two alpine amps and it kind of started after the installation but I cannot find out what the problem is.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,360
Likes: 1
From: DFW TX
Senior Member
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: HELP, electrical problems (benelliwang)
I have an aftermarket stereo system with two alpine amps and it kind of started after the installation but I cannot find out what the problem is.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Re: HELP, electrical problems (benelliwang)
A couple possibilities come to mind:
1) the battery is old or does not get fully charged. Still stock battery? -> replace.
2) corroded or loose battery terminals. Use some sandpaper, apply some Vaseline and retighten.
3) check the ground connections starting at alternator -> battery -> chassis.
I'd start at #3 and work my way up.
Hope this helps
Roger
1) the battery is old or does not get fully charged. Still stock battery? -> replace.
2) corroded or loose battery terminals. Use some sandpaper, apply some Vaseline and retighten.
3) check the ground connections starting at alternator -> battery -> chassis.
I'd start at #3 and work my way up.
Hope this helps
Roger
I have two strange electrical problems I can’t figure out why. It started happening about 1-½ years ago, it does not seem to effect performance or drivability but it is starting to bug me.
1. The little information screen cannot hold it’s last display. I like to keep it on Avg MPG or Oil Temp, but it does not seem to keep the settings. I can be out of the car for 10 minutes, get back in start her up and the display is back to Odometer and ave mpg is back to 0. Sometimes it can keep my last display setting but most of times it is back to odometer.
2. Once the engine is warmed up, the lights kind of dims/blinks as I idle at a red light. It can be seen clearly at night. The lights, instrument lights, kind of dims a little and comes right back up every 3 or 4 seconds at idle. With air on or off. You can see the idle dip about 300rpm like and it comes back up. I set my rpm up to 850 after the Heads and cam install but that did not fix the problems.
I have an aftermarket stereo system with two alpine amps and it kind of started after the installation but I cannot find out what the problem is.
1. The little information screen cannot hold it’s last display. I like to keep it on Avg MPG or Oil Temp, but it does not seem to keep the settings. I can be out of the car for 10 minutes, get back in start her up and the display is back to Odometer and ave mpg is back to 0. Sometimes it can keep my last display setting but most of times it is back to odometer.
2. Once the engine is warmed up, the lights kind of dims/blinks as I idle at a red light. It can be seen clearly at night. The lights, instrument lights, kind of dims a little and comes right back up every 3 or 4 seconds at idle. With air on or off. You can see the idle dip about 300rpm like and it comes back up. I set my rpm up to 850 after the Heads and cam install but that did not fix the problems.
I have an aftermarket stereo system with two alpine amps and it kind of started after the installation but I cannot find out what the problem is.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Re: HELP, electrical problems (rhoeven)
A couple possibilities come to mind:
1) the battery is old or does not get fully charged. Still stock battery? -> replace.
2) corroded or loose battery terminals. Use some sandpaper, apply some Vaseline and retighten.
3) check the ground connections starting at alternator -> battery -> chassis.
I'd start at #3 and work my way up.
Hope this helps
Roger
I have two strange electrical problems I can’t figure out why. It started happening about 1-½ years ago, it does not seem to effect performance or drivability but it is starting to bug me.
1. The little information screen cannot hold it’s last display. I like to keep it on Avg MPG or Oil Temp, but it does not seem to keep the settings. I can be out of the car for 10 minutes, get back in start her up and the display is back to Odometer and ave mpg is back to 0. Sometimes it can keep my last display setting but most of times it is back to odometer.
2. Once the engine is warmed up, the lights kind of dims/blinks as I idle at a red light. It can be seen clearly at night. The lights, instrument lights, kind of dims a little and comes right back up every 3 or 4 seconds at idle. With air on or off. You can see the idle dip about 300rpm like and it comes back up. I set my rpm up to 850 after the Heads and cam install but that did not fix the problems.
I have an aftermarket stereo system with two alpine amps and it kind of started after the installation but I cannot find out what the problem is.
1) the battery is old or does not get fully charged. Still stock battery? -> replace.
2) corroded or loose battery terminals. Use some sandpaper, apply some Vaseline and retighten.
3) check the ground connections starting at alternator -> battery -> chassis.
I'd start at #3 and work my way up.
Hope this helps
Roger
I have two strange electrical problems I can’t figure out why. It started happening about 1-½ years ago, it does not seem to effect performance or drivability but it is starting to bug me.
1. The little information screen cannot hold it’s last display. I like to keep it on Avg MPG or Oil Temp, but it does not seem to keep the settings. I can be out of the car for 10 minutes, get back in start her up and the display is back to Odometer and ave mpg is back to 0. Sometimes it can keep my last display setting but most of times it is back to odometer.
2. Once the engine is warmed up, the lights kind of dims/blinks as I idle at a red light. It can be seen clearly at night. The lights, instrument lights, kind of dims a little and comes right back up every 3 or 4 seconds at idle. With air on or off. You can see the idle dip about 300rpm like and it comes back up. I set my rpm up to 850 after the Heads and cam install but that did not fix the problems.
I have an aftermarket stereo system with two alpine amps and it kind of started after the installation but I cannot find out what the problem is.
My guess is that your battery is overwhelmed with the current demand and won't take a full charge anymore. if you do go with a new battery you might want to go with a deep cycle battery like Optima offers.
