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#1
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Confirm my problem is Alternator related
Hey folks. This problem just reared its head for the first time today. When the revs drop below 1500rpm some of my dash lights slowly illuminate. Once I get back above about 1.7K they fade out.
I've read many a thread about "Christmas Lights" without any real description of what that means. In my case only the "steering, battery, stop lamp, brake and ABS" lights illuminate. I suspect my alternator is on its way out, but I always check here before I go spending my hard earned dough. If indeed it's as I suspect I'll finally have run out of excuses for not picking up a Maniac and doing the infamous wiring upgrade. Thanks for humoring my mechanical insecurity. Despite doing quite a bit of work on this car, I'm still a noob at each task I undertake.
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'92 LS-L "Bandit" #362 formerly dark teal, repainted by prev owner Mods: ECUTune 2v7f, Earthworm bushings, Pioneer DVD/Bluetooth phone, Infinity Reference all around, tint, 17" wheels, custom seat belt computer, velcro visor Buying parts is like car payments. Someday she'll be all mine. |
#2
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
You can check the output voltage easily if you have a multimeter. Positive to the connection under the round rubber cover on the top of the alternator and negative to the neg battery post. Should read around 14.5 volts. Most auto parts stores will do a free alternator test also.
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#3
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
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The Alt will bring on these lights for a few different reasons. No charge, low charge, too high a voltage. In your case as the lights come on at low speeds, it is probably low charge. Just have it checked out. Harvey.
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One Arm Bloke. Tell it like it is! 95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels. 97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls. 04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls. |
#4
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
Start your car and pull a battery cable. Either one. If the car dies, then the alternator will be the problem 99.9 percent of the time. Checking with a multimeter is a good idea, in case the voltage regulator is failing. If the output is over 16 volts, replace the alternator. However, this would be likely if the symptoms occurred as the rpms raised, not "dropped below 1500". I would just pull a battery cable...
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Cam '92 Ls-L Dark Teal 11:1 CR ECUTUNE pistons ECUTUNE .256 duration intake/exhaust cams ECUTUNE STAGE 2AV1 ECU Z32 MAF/SR20DET injectors Balanced & Blueprinted |
#5
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
Quote:
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'92 LS-L "Bandit" #362 formerly dark teal, repainted by prev owner Mods: ECUTune 2v7f, Earthworm bushings, Pioneer DVD/Bluetooth phone, Infinity Reference all around, tint, 17" wheels, custom seat belt computer, velcro visor Buying parts is like car payments. Someday she'll be all mine. |
#6
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
I've gotten the "Christmas lights" once in each of my cars, promptly checked the drive belt tension/integrity, replaced the alternators with locally available remans, then went about my driving.
dcb |
#7
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
that light issue is usually 90% Alternator failure or connection failure @ or two the alternator. Check belt tension also. If alternator isnt putting out 13.5+ volts at idle, its got a dead diode (I think thats the part) either way its not charging fully, and Fuel injection draws a buttload of power to operate
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92 Svx 4.44 swap 198k miles. Toyo Garit KX tires.. my Icetrack car 86 Lifted GL wagon well over 600k miles on the chassis 98 Outback 5 speed 6 inch lift, forester struts/springs 29" tires |
#8
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
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Disconnecting the battery while the Alt is charging can cause a high voltage spike to go through the system, that can destroy units just like when the regulator goes out. Use a multimeter. Harvey.
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One Arm Bloke. Tell it like it is! 95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels. 97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls. 04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls. |
#9
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
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I've ordered up my HO Alternator from Maniac. Why can't this stuff ever happen on a Monday so I can get parts by the weekend? Thanks SVXCESS for the shipping promo. Still works! I suppose I'll trickle charge my battery before the new part shows up. I've also got to look into acquiring the parts for the wiring upgrade. The belt just started to periodically squeak at startup, so I'm thinking I might do that as well. Between my periodic stalls/no starts that I've posted about and the dash lights dimming when my blinker is on, I'm looking forward to getting my current sorted out. As always, thanks to this forum for keeping me on the road, and preventing me from frying my whole car.
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'92 LS-L "Bandit" #362 formerly dark teal, repainted by prev owner Mods: ECUTune 2v7f, Earthworm bushings, Pioneer DVD/Bluetooth phone, Infinity Reference all around, tint, 17" wheels, custom seat belt computer, velcro visor Buying parts is like car payments. Someday she'll be all mine. |
#10
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
Update #1.
I took my Optima Red Top into Kragen for a recharge, and they said it was dead and unchargable. They then asked for my phone number, looked up the transaction, and handed me my free replacement battery with no questions asked. There were two guys in line with dead AC Delco batteries. No replacements for them. I love Optima and my parts store today (Kragen/Checker/Shucks/O'Reilly Auto Parts). It's hard to find service like that these days. They had the 175amp Mega-Fuse there for $5 but no fuse holder. I also didn't like the look of their 4 gauge wire, so the parts hunt continues.
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'92 LS-L "Bandit" #362 formerly dark teal, repainted by prev owner Mods: ECUTune 2v7f, Earthworm bushings, Pioneer DVD/Bluetooth phone, Infinity Reference all around, tint, 17" wheels, custom seat belt computer, velcro visor Buying parts is like car payments. Someday she'll be all mine. |
#11
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Re: Confirm my problem is Alternator related
I've done this hundreds of times. If it makes a spike, it is for such a short duration that it doesn't matter. I've never had any issues with this trick.
__________________
Cam '92 Ls-L Dark Teal 11:1 CR ECUTUNE pistons ECUTUNE .256 duration intake/exhaust cams ECUTUNE STAGE 2AV1 ECU Z32 MAF/SR20DET injectors Balanced & Blueprinted |
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