headlights and gauge lights going from dim to bright, alternator?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Chicago Burbs, Other, ZEBRA
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headlights and gauge lights going from dim to bright, alternator?
A bit ago my dash lights started going from dim to bright really fast. WHen I took it to a few places they tested it and said the alternator was the problem. A shop I took it to said it was not the alternator and it was fine. They said it could be bad battery connection however they wiped off the cables and gave me a new battery and said that might fix it. The problem is still happening. It doesn't happen consistently, but I notice it at night periodically.
This subforum with ICE appeared to be the exact place to tell my question.
Does this sound like a specific issue?
This subforum with ICE appeared to be the exact place to tell my question.
Does this sound like a specific issue?
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 21,620
Likes: 1,252
From: Las Vegas, NV
Rep Power: 513 Re: headlights and gauge lights going from dim to bright, alternator?
Holy crap.
How much of a difference do you notice in your headlights/gauges? Voltage does fluctuate quite a bit during normal operations (something along the lines of 11.4-14.2V) so a bit of dimming is normal. Well, at least that I've noticed in the 13 years of owning my car.
How much of a difference do you notice in your headlights/gauges? Voltage does fluctuate quite a bit during normal operations (something along the lines of 11.4-14.2V) so a bit of dimming is normal. Well, at least that I've noticed in the 13 years of owning my car.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
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From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 519 Re: headlights and gauge lights going from dim to bright, alternator?
I'd put a volt meter on it and see what the numbers are as it pulsates....note voltage highs and lows.
Yes voltage going up and down is normal with charging requirements, speeds, and electrical loads (the ELD system), but rapidly pulsing does not sound right.
I'll guess alternator.
Yes voltage going up and down is normal with charging requirements, speeds, and electrical loads (the ELD system), but rapidly pulsing does not sound right.
I'll guess alternator.
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 21,620
Likes: 1,252
From: Las Vegas, NV
Rep Power: 513 Re: headlights and gauge lights going from dim to bright, alternator?
I missed the really fast part. I maintain that I can't read or write..
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 22,702
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From: Chicago Burbs, Other, ZEBRA
Rep Power: 529 Re: headlights and gauge lights going from dim to bright, alternator?
Hi xRiCeBoYx 
A few stores have said it's nothing.
A few stores have said it's the voltage regulator.
A few stores have said it's the alternator.
I got some of those papers with the diagrams on them and they show everything is good.
A different places said it might be a bad ground.
One place in particular said it was a bad voltage regulator. Another place said it was the alternator.
The car starts fine. THe dash just gets dimmer and brighter really instantly. It doesn't happen every trip. I drove from illinois to california and it started like halfway through. CHanging the dash display doesn't fix it, they still continue to change based on how bright I Have it set.
A few stores have said it's nothing.
A few stores have said it's the voltage regulator.
A few stores have said it's the alternator.
I got some of those papers with the diagrams on them and they show everything is good.
A different places said it might be a bad ground.
One place in particular said it was a bad voltage regulator. Another place said it was the alternator.
The car starts fine. THe dash just gets dimmer and brighter really instantly. It doesn't happen every trip. I drove from illinois to california and it started like halfway through. CHanging the dash display doesn't fix it, they still continue to change based on how bright I Have it set.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 519 Re: headlights and gauge lights going from dim to bright, alternator?
The voltage regulator is inside the alternator.
You aren't going to change one without changing the other unless you want to try to split the alternator open and gut it.
We have a rebuilder in my town that uses the cheapest parts for rebuilding starters and alternators.... I've seen your exact complaint several times.
I got some of those papers with the diagrams on them and they show everything is good.
Honda forces us to use those dang things.....I've got some opinions but I better not say a lot about it here:
70% accurate is just as good as 100% accurate, right?
That would be a sh!tty record if you were a sniper.
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