Headlights/dashlights flicker

Eos

Oh Heather Oh yeah... I want your pink taco

Jun 13, 2003

734

3

0

oklahoma

Sep 4, 2005

#1

• Sep 4, 2005

• #1

I've noticed lately my headlights and dashlights kind of flicker, and tonight my dashlights didn't look as bright as they normally do.

 

2muchtime

Founding Member

Jan 30, 2002

890

1

16

MA.

Sep 5, 2005

#2

• Sep 5, 2005

• #2

bad ground ,loose connection, alternator not charging to spec, battery or even voltage regulator. you need to have the elec system load tested..

 

T

THE COBRAMAN

pig 'rassler

Founding Member

Mar 11, 1999

1,974

0

36

Oklahoma

Sep 5, 2005

#3

• Sep 5, 2005

• #3

Most common cause in a II is lack of battery to vehicle chassis/body ground.

Not that it would apply to a '74, but the original body ground on a 302 car was a tab soldered to the battery cable, which then screws to the firewall. Battery cable gets replaced, ground tab doesn't get replaced, poor ground path is the result.

 

Eos

Oh Heather Oh yeah... I want your pink taco

Jun 13, 2003

734

3

0

oklahoma

Sep 5, 2005

#4

• Sep 5, 2005

• #4

You know I have a voltage regulator guage and it's been out of whack lately. I think last time the reason was... something was touching something... lol I don't remember but that could be whats messing it up..

 

7

77sleeper

GO BUCS!

Founding Member

Oct 11, 1999

7,266

0

0

Napalm, AZ

Sep 5, 2005

#5

• Sep 5, 2005

• #5

high or low?

 

Mstng2

Founding Member

Jun 27, 2002

789

5

19

- - Zion - -

Sep 6, 2005

#6

• Sep 6, 2005

• #6

Megan, Do you have a ground strap from the engine block to the firewall? If not could be your problem. I had a similar issue awhile back but with mine the headlights would go all the way out then back on. That ended up being the floor dimmer switch going bad.

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Sep 6, 2005

#7

• Sep 6, 2005

• #7

Define flicker.

A regular pulsing, or intermittant and/or random.

 

Eos

Oh Heather Oh yeah... I want your pink taco

Jun 13, 2003

734

3

0

oklahoma

Sep 6, 2005

#8

• Sep 6, 2005

• #8

Its like.... a surge like the get kinda dim then normal kinda dim then normal every few seconds.

 

Dano78

Founding Member

Nov 1, 1999

2,633

1

47

Vancouver, WA

Sep 7, 2005

#9

• Sep 7, 2005

• #9

Sounds like the charging system... like the regulator is not being very consistant. Just a thought...

Could also be a sign of a battery getting weak, if it's up ther in age.

 

Mstng2

Founding Member

Jun 27, 2002

789

5

19

- - Zion - -

Sep 7, 2005

#10

• Sep 7, 2005

• #10

Does it get brighter if you rev the motor?

 

Eos

Oh Heather Oh yeah... I want your pink taco

Jun 13, 2003

734

3

0

oklahoma

Sep 7, 2005

#11

• Sep 7, 2005

• #11

Dano78 said:

Sounds like the charging system... like the regulator is not being very consistant. Just a thought...

Could also be a sign of a battery getting weak, if it's up ther in age.

Click to expand...

No just replaced the battery.... I guess I could go toy around with some stuff.... lol Uh oh that doesnt sound like a good idea.... hehe

 

Eos

Oh Heather Oh yeah... I want your pink taco

Jun 13, 2003

734

3

0

oklahoma

Sep 7, 2005

#12

• Sep 7, 2005

• #12

Mstng2 said:

Does it get brighter if you rev the motor?

Click to expand...

Hmm not sure I'll check into that.

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Sep 7, 2005

#13

• Sep 7, 2005

• #13

Eos said:

Its like.... a surge like the get kinda dim then normal kinda dim then normal every few seconds.

Click to expand...

At regular intervals?

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Sep 7, 2005

#14

• Sep 7, 2005

• #14

Mstng2 said:

Does it get brighter if you rev the motor?

Click to expand...

Is that the best you can do?

I'm waiting for either you or Pro Builder to offer anything of substance.

Don't tell me your going to be 0 - 4 without a battle?

I'll give you a hint:

Naw.

The hints the most likely answer.

 

Eos

Oh Heather Oh yeah... I want your pink taco

Jun 13, 2003

734

3

0

oklahoma

Sep 7, 2005

#15

• Sep 7, 2005

• #15

Yeah its kinda regular intervels. It doesnt seem to be doing it as much now though. hmm...

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Sep 7, 2005

#16

• Sep 7, 2005

• #16

Eos said:

Yeah its kinda regular intervels. It doesnt seem to be doing it as much now though. hmm...

Click to expand...

That would fit the pattern.

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Sep 8, 2005

#17

• Sep 8, 2005

• #17

I know you have a late model engine, what year is the alternator and what year is the regulator?

 

Putter

New Member

Dec 5, 2002

147

0

0

Calgary

Sep 8, 2005

#18

• Sep 8, 2005

• #18

Ok this might be part of my cars problem. Does anyone have a pic of where the block to chassis and the battery to chassis bonding straps should be? I have no dash instuments except RPM and MPH.

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Sep 8, 2005

#19

• Sep 8, 2005

• #19

Putter said:

Ok this might be part of my cars problem. Does anyone have a pic of where the block to chassis and the battery to chassis bonding straps should be? I have no dash instuments except RPM and MPH.

Click to expand...

That could be caused by the "voltage regulator" ont he back of hte cluster.

 

T

THE COBRAMAN

pig 'rassler

Founding Member

Mar 11, 1999

1,974

0

36

Oklahoma

Sep 8, 2005

#20

• Sep 8, 2005

• #20

Putter said:

Ok this might be part of my cars problem. Does anyone have a pic of where the block to chassis and the battery to chassis bonding straps should be? I have no dash instuments except RPM and MPH.

Click to expand...

IIs never had a block to chassis ground, other than the batt cable. The chassis ground was through the batt cable at the firewall, just below the pinchweld near the pass side hood hinge. The cable then continued to the block, thereby providing both grounds through one cable.

**The above applies to 302 cars. I have not spent any time examining the 2.3 or 2.8 cars' cable setups.**

In this handler pic, the ground tab is in the orange circle.

 

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