Dim to Bright Lights

[Sully4x4]

This is kinda weird. My gauge lights get kinda dim as well as my headlights. Then if I rev it up or if I hit higher RPM's while driving the lights brighten up. Anyone ever deal with this? Not an issue, yet, just an annoyance right now.

[soccerbrace]

J- I think that the RPM give juice to the alternator making it brighter. Is this a new occurance?

[ChefTyler]

I get that, just very slightly, in my X.

[DamnHippie]

That's typically a sign of a dying battery. Even if it's fully charged, it can't supply electricity for a heavy load (headlights, etc) fast enough. When you rev up, the alternator supplies the juice without any help from the battery. If the battery is new/known good, then look for loose connections and such.

[Sully4x4]

It's a new battery, about a year old. We replaced it when my starter went out. I'll look for loose connections.

James-It is a new occurance. I don't even think a month old.

[Alpine Spirit]

Check the Negative terminal connnection... Ive seen those come loose a bit on a couple of trucks.

[soccerbrace]

Is it a cheapo battery? Does it hold a charge?

Go to an autostore and have them run a charging test. It is free

[Packman5280]

well, see? that's what you get for letting me work on your truck, and i didn't even do any work!

[Sully4x4]

LMAO! It's not a cheapo battery, I think it's a DieHard, I will go out and check in a second.

It definately holds a charge, and my terminals are kinda...wimpy. It's tightened all the way but it's still a bit shaky. Hopefully that's the problem.

[Alex Topousis]

I went through like 4 optima redtops within within 6 months so it could be a faulty battery. I would definitely check for corrosion at the terminals and maybe get some nicer terminals

[Sully4x4]

Terminals weren't loose, no corrosion. Now what?

[Sully4x4]

I checked it on the way home from school. It starts to brighten up around 2100 RPM's and gets about full at 3100 RPM's.

[csutke]

sounds like a bad alternator get that checked as well

[Sully4x4]

I really hope not. Finances are piling up as is without having to worry about a bad alternator.

[Sully4x4]

Another issue with this:

I found out that my windshield wipers and heater are affected by this as well, at the same RPM's. Any ideas?

[Allen Cox]

I'm not sure that I'd worry about Sully. The vehicle wasn't designed to give everything at idle. If you're driving down the road and everything is fine, then it's good. I'd worry about it when something actually fails or it's getting to the point that even at 2500rpm everything is still dim.

Run it!

[Reserector]

Go by an auto parts store and have them test the alternator. They can test it in the car for free.

[Sully4x4]

They can test it while it's still installed? Or do I have to take it out??

P.S. - Allen, did you get my PM?

[Ditchfinder]

they should be able to test it in the car depending where you go make sure it is acting up when they test it. It is possible that the voltage regulator in the alternator is failing,Look at the alternator and see if it looks like it is an Autozone brand or something else along those lines. Make sure your belt is tight! later.

[jonwiili]

Most autoparts store have load testers if you want to take it out. Or you might want to try a tire place that sells batteries both will normally do it for free.
My battery charger has a diagnostic on it, its one of the new electronic ones, Im not in CO but maybe someone else has one you can use.
If you are getting 14volts off of the meter then your charging fine, if you cant hold that charge your liquid is low if you are lucky(if its not a sealed battery) Most times its a/some cells going bad in the battery.

[Packman5280]

auto zone at colfax and 225 has the tester and the correct cables to test an early pathy alt. i was just there this weekend when joel's alt died on his 88 (later the same afternoon you were over Jordan. people should learn not to let me work on their trucks). the checker stores i went to couldn't test it, either their machine was broke or they didn't have the right cables to hook it up. a checker employee actually told me to go to vato zone

[Sully4x4]

Lol, did he say vato zone? And I will prolly do that if I can't figure it out myself.

[Packman5280]

no, that's just my name for it.

[Sully4x4]

Gotcha. But they can do it while it's still in the pathy?

[Packman5280]

not that i've seen. they have a machine on a bench, the alt has to be out. only takes about 5 min to remove the alt.

[Sully4x4]

Really? Where is it? What needs to be done to take it out.

[soccerbrace]

disconnect your power, and your ground, your 2 bolts which mount it to the block and the one that slides the alt to put tension on it. Of course, remove the Neg. Batt. cable. first.


But you do not have to do that.

Jordan, go to an auto store and have them do a charging system test. They will be able to tell you which componenent is the one that is messed up. It is free, nothing to remove or anything.

[DamnHippie]

Yeah, no need to remove it. In fact the new alternator I just installed in my junker had a sticker on it, "This unit cannot be tested off the vehicle".

[Packman5280]

hmm, ok then. i've never tested one in the vehicle, now i know too.

[Sully4x4]

So just go to "vato zone" and ask for them to check the alt? Or should I do what James said and do the charging system test?

[soccerbrace]

Do the charging system test, and it will tell you what component is messed up. It will tell you if your alt is bad.

[Sully4x4]

Will do. I will prolly get it done Tuesday since I have no time right now. I am up in Estes until tomorrow evening and then to school all day Monday.

[pathmaker1]

be careful with that thing acting the way it is. about a month ago had the same exact symptoms as you are having. i wiggled the wires on the alt and it went away for about a week and came back 10 times worse. turns out the pick up brushes inside the alt were worn out and i barely made it home 1 nite. bought a new alt and problem solved.

oh and btw a nissan maxima alt will bolt right upto the pathy and it cranks out 90A instead of stock 60A AND it was $40 less for the maxima alt($80) VS the pathy alt($120) here in VA. theres a writeup about it on npora ill try to dig up for you but basically it is a 1985-1994 maxima SOHC alt you need and then all you need to do is switch the pully off your old alt to the new maxima alt which is free at advanced auto. i had to adjust my alt adjustment bracket to make a bit more room since the maxima alt is a bit larger but it was easy...requiring nothing more than wrenches, no fabbing/cutting/welding(too bad for me:(). ill try to find the alt part # for ya too.

heres the writeup link at NPORA : http://npora.ipbhost.com//index.php?showtopic=13706&hl=maxima+alternator

Rich

[Sully4x4]

Sounds good. I still need to get it down to an auto store and have them test some stuff. Still haven't had time. Finals are comin up, with some this week, and it's just kickin my ass. On top of that, planning for NEXT semester....ugh

[Sully4x4]

Another Update:

Tonight driving home I watched the amp meter in the cluster and saw it shoots up to 18. When the blinker is going, it fluctuates. It idles around 15. So something is over charging something else.

[DamnHippie]

You have an amp meter? Volt meters are more common (and 18 is way too high for volts, it should max around 15-15.5 and idle around 13-13.5).

[Packman5280]

yeah it's volts, and 18 is way too high. i'll be around this weekend jordan, we can knock that thing out pretty easy. we'll get it tested, figure out what's broke, and get it fixed.

[Allen Cox]

That is, if the meter in that thing is actually correct.

A DVOM would be more accurate at the terminals.

[Packman5280]

allen the voltage regulator is internal on that alt right?

[Sully4x4]

Well Jamie, I work Friday prolly 3-midnight, Saturday I am doing my clutch, and Sunday I prolly work 9-5. I need to get to an auto store and do the system charge test.

[Packman5280]

so go friday before work

[Sully4x4]

That'll have to be the time I go. I am so behind in school. My last day is Monday and I have 4 quizzes to do, and 3 essays to do at this moment lol

[Allen Cox]

allen the voltage regulator is internal on that alt right?Yepper!

[Sully4x4]

I talked to my brother and from the symptoms I told him he said it was the voltage regulator. He said he could maybe rebuild it, but I am just gonna go with a new alt. Now, where can I get a really good deal on that? I don't have the damn money right now to replace it. At this state, how long do I have before it really needs to be replaced?

[Packman5280]

the biggest problem with driving it now will be possible damage to the battery from getting too much power, or, just getting stranded when it finally dies and then yer stuck. best deal is probably autozone, around $90 for a new one. you might be able to find one cheaper, call around a few parts stores and see what they say.

[DamnHippie]

Last time I was at Sidewinders they had 2 pathfinders on the lot -- that was like 2 weeks ago. There was also one at pull-n-save, but alternators disappear pretty quickly from p-n-s because they're so cheap there (like $12).

[Sully4x4]

Well maybe I can see if someone in my family will go half or pay for it full and I will pay them back. I am kinda out of money as of right now =P.

How hard is it to replace an alt?

[Allen Cox]

I would verify that it's really overcharging before throwing money at something that, by the sounds of it, is only a slight annoyance and could possibly do the same thing after replacing it.

If it's leaving the battery dead, then replace it. If it's cooking bulbs, replace it. If it's blowing fuses, replace it. But if the lights are dim at idle and go normal when you give a little gas and are good while you're driving, then leave it alone! Especially if you're broke and have to borrow the money.

If it ain't broke, and I don't think it is, then don't fix it.

[Sully4x4]

Aight. Since we're kinda on the topic of JY's, what time are they open until Sundays?

[DamnHippie]

8:30 - 4:15 every day is what their (1-page minimalist) website says. Pull-n-save is 9-4 (and alternators are on special this weekend, $6 each, but good luck finding one).

You should put a regular voltmeter on that battery to confirm what your dash meter says, since those dash meters aren't all that accurate.

[Sully4x4]

Ok, I was asking because of maybe getting help from someone on getting some JGC coils. I dunno how to get them out =\