I'm thinking, alternator/regulator?

[Dave Z]

I had to use my headlights this evening and noticed that my dash lights and courtesy lights were flickering (dimmer, brighter, dimmer, etc.). I then noticed that the headlights were flickering too. When I got home, I walked around the car to find that all of the lights flicker at the same time. It does not matter what RPM I'm holding, they still flicker. They don't ever go completely out, just flicker. A while back, my volt gauge was going crazy, all over the place, but never trouble starting the car or running accessories. I pulled the radio, reached behind the bezel and made sure the connection was secure. The gauge seemd to behave after that. Recently, the gauge started acting up again, but I paid no attention to it. Now that I'm having this problem, I'm wondering if my alternator is going bad. Also, is the regulator internal to the alternator?

Thanks,
Dave Z.

 

[lone73]

I'm not an alt expert but you could try disconnecting the alt hot wire (the big red one) from the back of the alternator and running it w/lights on - (just running off the battery) to see if it still does it. That would eliminate the alt if that was the cause.
good luck with it
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[Dave Z]

Thanks for the tip, and I actually went out to try it but decided to wait until morning. While I was out there, I decided to try a variation of your advice and tried the lights with the car not running. No flicker. Tried jiggling the switch to see if maybe there was a bad connection from the vibration while the car was running. No flicker. Started it up, turned on the lights and no flicker. The car has been sitting about 5 hours since I drove it, so now I'm wondering about an overheating alternator? Is there such a thing? Also, the belt is not loose.

 

[KANE]

I had to use my headlights this evening and noticed that my dash lights and courtesy lights were flickering (dimmer, brighter, dimmer, etc.). I then noticed that the headlights were flickering too. When I got home, I walked around the car to find that all of the lights flicker at the same time. It does not matter what RPM I'm holding, they still flicker. They don't ever go completely out, just flicker. A while back, my volt gauge was going crazy, all over the place, but never trouble starting the car or running accessories. I pulled the radio, reached behind the bezel and made sure the connection was secure. The gauge seemd to behave after that. Recently, the gauge started acting up again, but I paid no attention to it. Now that I'm having this problem, I'm wondering if my alternator is going bad. Also, is the regulator internal to the alternator?

Thanks,
Dave Z.

If you want more thump from an alternator, you can put a '91 Corvette alternator in. The mounting provisions are the same- 12 / 6 o'clock. The alternator throws out a whopping 105 amps. I would recommend putting a 5 gauge charge wire running from the alternator back to the starter, or right back to the battery. As I see it, the Vette uses the battery cable as the world's longest terminal, since chare is passed forward and backward accross it. I was running TPI, so having the extra juice was critical. You will need to swap the pulley and then crimp (or adapt) the late model pigtail. The good news is that most parts houses carry the correct replacement pigtails. I think I paid about $100 fore the complete swap.

Check your grounds and the extension harness to the starter. The contacts are notorius for either shorting out or corroding.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Some of the repair places will chekd the charging system for free with the expectation of getting the alternator repair, though no one says they have to.

Try Pep Boys, Sears, etc. and see what they are doing these days.

 

[JohnZ]

Sounds like the regulator (which is internal to the alternator in your car) is going south; inexpensive fix at an alternator rebuild shop.

 

[Dave Z]

Thanks John Z...

As it turns out, I had to exhange the alternator today. Was out enjoying the weather today (top off!). Drove about 35 mins with radio and heat on. Stopped at a friends house for about an hour. Got in, started right up. Drove about 25 mins back to stop for gas. Filled up, turned the key and it BARELY cranked up. Drove it straight home, tried putting the windows up and they almost made it all they way. Shut it off and tried to start it right back up...nothing! Pulled the alternator and did the exchange. I'll install it tomorrow and hope this will be the end of it!

Thanks for everyones input!

 

[Dave Z]

OK...alternator went in, car started right up. Battery gauge now hangs around +20 (or whatever the hash mark is between 0 and +40) where as before it would hang around zero when it wasn't jumping around. Drove it about 30 mins with lights, radio, heater. Shut it off and it cranked right back up. My windows even work better than before all this trouble started (and really since I bought the car last June).

I do not wish to give bad advice. I guess I would recommend, that if you do not know the age or your alternator, and your Battery gauge starts jumping around for no reason, in my case, that was an indication that the unit was going bad, and should probably replace it soon. Again, in my case, I drove it about twice a week for 4 months before it finally went south.

...my .02 cents.

 

[lone73]

Charge indicator.

Glad to hear you got it solved, and yes, I watch my alt guage fairly often looking for that slight change in the needle position - from barely leaning right to straight up. It means I'm about to be on the side of the road soon if I don't look into it. Been there a few times before.

happy vetting
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[Ken]

You may or may not find an anything new, but the new Super Chevy magazine has an excellent article on alternators and associated wiring.

 

[Dave Z]

Thanks Ken...I couldn't find the article though. Searched the Technical Articals section. Great site though, I now have it bookmarked.

 

[Ken]

Sorry if the message was misleading; the article usually doesn't appear online until the magazine's been on the stands for a month or two. You won't necessarily find an article from the current magazine online right away.

You can however, find it in the hard copy of February's issue.