Ext/Int lights diming/flickering at idle? new bat new alt?

Yellow302

Member

Mar 2, 2003

789

2

19

NJ

Oct 31, 2006

#1

• Oct 31, 2006

• #1

title says it all, even in park with idel up around 900 my headlights flicker and my interior lights dim and glow rapidly. The Batery voltage also insn't steady when the lights are going crazy. Once I start driving the voltage meeter is steady and the lights are fine.

Any thing I should test or trace?

The only thing I have hooked up to the bat is a small 100 watt amp which has a remote turn on feature.

 

69clark

Founding Member

Sep 25, 2002

731

7

18

Ravena, NY

Oct 31, 2006

#2

• Oct 31, 2006

• #2

I have the same problem! Haven't looked into it yet though.

 

I

inphiniti

Active Member

Mar 15, 2003

412

3

28

Providence, RI

Oct 31, 2006

#3

• Oct 31, 2006

• #3

i went through aproblem similiar to this awhile ago... when i matted the pedal, especially thru WOT, my cluster lights would get REALLY bright and my voltage meter would flatline @ +18... this could be ur regulator going in ur alternator...

whatever u do, dont have ur highbeams on when/if ur rev'in the vehicle to make it idle higher... i learned this 1 the hard way LOL

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

34

129

Oct 31, 2006

#4

• Oct 31, 2006

• #4

If you are seeing actual voltage around 11 volts or less, this can happen. You can run the idle setting up a little bit, overdrive the alternator, etc.

I went through it and ended up just raising the idle a little bit. Now if your voltage reading is 12.0+ while this occurs (as read with a DMM), post that up as your issue is something else (like the PDC connections).

Good luck.

 

The Green GT

No 13 year olds are safe around me.

10 Year Member

Jan 8, 2006

1,269

19

99

Louisiana

Oct 31, 2006

#5

• Oct 31, 2006

• #5

Take off your U/D pulleys.

My car has DIED becasie of them and had to be jumpped. Im more than likely taking them off this weekend.
If you dont want to take them off, you cna get an O/D pulley for the alt.

Where did you say you can get them HISSIN50?

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

34

129

Oct 31, 2006

#6

• Oct 31, 2006

• #6

ASP and FFI (amongst many others) make O/D pullies. I think Summit sells the ASP's and FFI sells their own pulley (it was a good price too, way back when I researched that stuff).

Good luck.

 

1TallMF

New Member

Apr 17, 2006

955

1

0

Montreal

Oct 31, 2006

#7

• Oct 31, 2006

• #7

I had, and am still have the same thing. Its the underdrive pulleys, as mentionned, they slow down the alternator just enough to cause this problem. I got my overdrive pulley from ASP, I recommend them, good prices and fast shipping. I tried installing it, but I needed a shorter belt and couldn't find one that would fit, so I gave up. I've been too lazy to try again. But I will, some day.

 

JJ95GTID

Active Member

Sep 22, 2003

1,141

4

49

Phoenix, AZ

Oct 31, 2006

#8

• Oct 31, 2006

• #8

Kinda :OT:

I recently replaced my alternator with a Autolite brand 130amp. The pulley on that thing was huge. I mean it was bigger in diameter than the UD pulley I got from MAC. I use the stock pulley on the alternator and still have flickering at idle. No big deal though.