Help, B11 electrical problems

Mar 20th, 2003, 09:20 AM

OK, here's the problem: With the motor running, electrical accessories in my car such as A/C, stereo, and also the lights, as well as the warning lights in the gauge clusters behave strangely. I mean, they look like they're dimming, and then come back on. Even the A/C blower is acting up. All of a sudden there is a very noticeable reduction in the fan speed (amount of air from the vents becomes less), and another second its back to normal. At night, same thing, gauge cluster's illumination lights also dims and comes back on with full brightness, sort of like its not getting enough power.

Any idea? The symptoms are more evident during driving than idle. I suspect the voltage regulator is going off. Could be the altenator? Please help, this is really driving me nuts. Wouldn't wanna be caught one day with a total blackout..

SuperSentra4203 · Mar 20th, 2003, 10:28 AM

Altenator or battery. I had a interesting thing with a bad alternator. Just got my license, and was driving to the gas station with my subs rocking my trunk hard. My tach starts bouncing around. I mean bad. Every time my subs hit, my tach jumped down 2500rpm. Ended up the altenator went out, and my amp drained my battery, bad, I had to bump start my car in reverse(big no, no) and I barely made it home. My car was firing on compression. Can't seem to figure out how I didn't puke a rod.

Myetball · Mar 20th, 2003, 07:11 PM

Your voltage regulator is part of the alternator. Sounds like it might be time for a new alternator. Check for any loose/damaged connections in charging system. Also check for a loose/damaged alternator drive belt.

If connections/belt are fine take it to a shop and have them test the charging system.

SuperSentra4203 · Mar 21st, 2003, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Myetball
Your voltage regulator is part of the alternator. Sounds like it might be time for a new alternator. Check for any loose/damaged connections in charging system. Also check for a loose/damaged alternator drive belt.

If connections/belt are fine take it to a shop and have them test the charging system.

Yep, the voltage regulator is part of it. A new altenator only runs $90 max. If you hear a squealing, tighten the belt. Also, check and make sure the belt if there. I ended up going for a week not knowing my belt broke.

Myetball · Mar 21st, 2003, 07:59 PM

DOH! A week without a belt! Must have been one helluva battery.

fastpakr · Mar 21st, 2003, 09:17 PM

I was impressed with that too. The couple of times I've had an alternator die or tossed a belt it's only taken a day.

AVERAGE · Mar 21st, 2003, 11:10 PM

wow, 90. i ve paid 169 bucks for an alt for the b12 from autozone. but i got about what, 70 bucks back from the core so and when that one went bad i took it back and got a brand new one for free but this was like after about a year and a half and by the power of greyskull , i still had the receipt.

SuperSentra4203 · Mar 22nd, 2003, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Myetball
DOH! A week without a belt! Must have been one helluva battery.

Yup! Optima Red Top deed cycle

Well worth the $169 i paid for it. Unfortuantely, I forgot to take it out when my B12 was towed to the junkyard

$90 is all I paid for mine. 75amp. Core was like $30, but I brought mine in when I got the new one, as I knew it was bad. My mom blew 3 radiator hoses in 4 months, so the stock altenator went out at 165K. Not bad. Actually wondered how long it would have lasted had it not been taking coolant baths