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Elecrical problem...? when i do ANYTHING, my lights dim. not altenator though...
so, whenever i do ANYTHING...including, roll up my windows, door locks, even when i press the brake pedal; my head-lights dim. got my altenator checked...3 times in a row. good everytime. same for battery and starter...so, im guessing an electrical pronlem. any suggestions...?
thanks
(Lynchburg will probly kno. lol....hopefully)
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Shes on her way
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That happens to me too. It's just the fact that your headlights are running at X volts when you're idling and not doing anything, but when you start rolling up your windows at Y volts, then the headlights only have X-Y volts available.
Make sense?
It also happens to me now that I got that crank pulley on there and the alternator doesn't spin fast enough at idle so my lights dim at stop lights. Rev it up and they'll blink.
As stated, to some degree this is normal, but where do you draw the line? Do you have voltage drop in the lighting system?
LIGHTS:
1 - Measure "all off" battery voltage across b-posts. record
2 - Turn on low beams
3 - Measure voltage across battery posts. record
4 - Measure voltage acoss a low beam element. record **
#1 to #3 = -0.5V drop w/lights on. Pretty typical battery voltage drop.
#3 to #4 = -0.5V drop is probably normal loss. IF #3 to #4 is like a -1volt or more, you have voltage loss in your lighting system. You're loosing candle powers!
** Try not to dork up the bulb wire. Maybe slide a strand of copper wire inside the rubber seal at the bulb connecter makes it possible to get the voltage. Don't short anything out!
If the bulbs voltage drop is more than a volt, zero your ohm meter and verifiy the Negative battery post to the Bulb ground wire. It should be Zero Ohms but even though it reads zero doesn' mean it handles current w/out dropping voltage!
Repeat at high idle. You should see higher voltages but the same loss from #3 to #4. If the loss goes up, you have an issue to resolve.
Bad grounds could cause high voltage drops as could other problems.
__________________
95 Cam, V6 1MZ, Auto A541E, LE >245,000 miles!
It also happens to me now that I got that crank pulley on there and the alternator doesn't spin fast enough at idle so my lights dim at stop lights. Rev it up and they'll blink.
But we saw that one coming!
__________________
95 Cam, V6 1MZ, Auto A541E, LE >245,000 miles!
Just because your alternator tests good doesnt mean it isnt bad. You can lose diodes and the alternator can still check good but it won't be putting out the right output. It depends on how they test it.
Just because your alternator tests good doesnt mean it isnt bad. You can lose diodes and the alternator can still check good but it won't be putting out the right output. It depends on how they test it.
they tested it by hookin up the cables to the battery.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BamZipPow
How good are yer battery cables? Is there any corrosion/white stuff going on the inside of the cable?
thats a negative. (no pun intended. )
Quote:
Originally Posted by 73sport
This should get you in the ball park.
As stated, to some degree this is normal, but where do you draw the line? Do you have voltage drop in the lighting system?
LIGHTS:
1 - Measure "all off" battery voltage across b-posts. record
2 - Turn on low beams
3 - Measure voltage across battery posts. record
4 - Measure voltage acoss a low beam element. record **
#1 to #3 = -0.5V drop w/lights on. Pretty typical battery voltage drop.
#3 to #4 = -0.5V drop is probably normal loss. IF #3 to #4 is like a -1volt or more, you have voltage loss in your lighting system. You're loosing candle powers!
** Try not to dork up the bulb wire. Maybe slide a strand of copper wire inside the rubber seal at the bulb connecter makes it possible to get the voltage. Don't short anything out!
If the bulbs voltage drop is more than a volt, zero your ohm meter and verifiy the Negative battery post to the Bulb ground wire. It should be Zero Ohms but even though it reads zero doesn' mean it handles current w/out dropping voltage!
Repeat at high idle. You should see higher voltages but the same loss from #3 to #4. If the loss goes up, you have an issue to resolve.
Bad grounds could cause high voltage drops as could other problems.
uh.... huh? lol
__________________
Shes on her way
Tint{X} Suspension{X} Camber Bolts{X} Rims{X} Sound System{X} Rear Spacers{} Header-Back Exhaust{} CAI{} Paint/Body/Kit{} Lights{}
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