Pulsating engine with low acceleration power and fading dash lights...

[rsmichelutti]

Hello again!

I am unsure what it going on with my car ('96 a/t LE wagon)...it supposedly has a clean bill of health, and I do get it checked out regularly at an auto shop by my house......

I've known for quite sometime that my car is extra cranky on very cold days.

I do feel like it's getting worse though...The engine is now pulsating, and the dash lights dim and brighten as the engine pulses (same pattern...) and when I'm trying to accelerate, it is as if my car is stuck in neutral (but it isn't).....Is there something seriously wrong here? My battery seems fine, and it is starting to happen more frequently, but it goes away shortly after the engine warms up.....

Any advice here?

[71Corolla]

Sounds like your alternator is not charging the battery properly, or the battery is failing. If you have a multi-meter it is very easy to find out, you should have 13.8 volts or more with the engine idling and no accessories/lights on, same thing with a bunch of stuff on and the engine revving.

[rsmichelutti]

I don't know what a multi-meter is I don't have any of those fancy schmancy meter thingies on my dash...lol
but thanks!!! hopefully that's all it is...I got my battery replaced a little more than 2 years ago

[71Corolla]

You can get one for less than $10,

like this

like this

. Doesn't have to be Amazon of course, they are available just about anywhere.

[Yuko]

If you're still having electrical trouble, most auto parts store can test the battery and alternator in car. But as 71Corolla said, it's can be the battery or alternator. I would also check the terminal and wires.

But you said that the engine is pulsing. How much is the RPM fluctuating? If the RPM drops too low, the alternator wouldn't be able to put out enough of a change. I would check and clean the IACV and toss in some new plugs and wires.