Dash light problems

[s4b0t4g3r]

Hi.
Heres the story.
I notice, about 2 days after getting my alternator replaced, some weird problems. First off, my problem where there is a BIG difference in brightness of the dash when I let off the throttle, and secondly, strange warning light problems. Here we go. Allright, when the cars running, I get 3 lights. These are extremely dim, and for the most part go away when I give it gas. The radiator light, alternator light, and parking brake light all go on very dim. As I said before these sometimes go away when I give the car gas. Now, yesterday I was letting the car idle since it was cold, for about 5 mins. The dash and headlights went extremely dim, and the car was idling around 500rpm. Lo and behold, a while later the car dies. A loss of power. The windows roll down at the speed of snails. Same as the headlights popping up. I have been told its most definetely my charging system. But the battery was manufactured in 04, and the alternator is brand spanking new. (I did not do this myself, I took it to a Service shop.) Heres a video of the problem. VIDEO
(this will take a while to load)

Any idea anyone?
I'm thinking of changing the battery, thinking maybe its a crappy battery. Then again, it seemed fine when I checked it with the multimeter.

The car is a 1990 Eagle Talon TSI AWD Turbo
Thanks in advance.

 

[Skusssssh]

well first of all i would go back to the service shop tell and possible show them what its doing and see what they say.

i know its sometimes more expensive but i take mine to the dealer for things of that sort.
well my dealer is cool and all he tells me what he thinks and rather or not he would do it there or else where.

but to me it sounds something like your alt. i know its new but it could be defective. simple fix is to go to an autoparts store and have them test the batt. and the alt. after all its free.

 

[Defiant]

Allright, when the cars running, I get 3 lights. These are extremely dim, and for the most part go away when I give it gas.

Your new [rebuilt] alternator is dead. Re replace.

 

[TimG]

Seen this many times. Bring it back to whomever rebuilt it and tell them the situation. There is only 8 solder points in an alt. You could even open it up and check them and confirm yourself. It's the alternator.

 

[s4b0t4g3r]

its not a rebuilt alt. Its brand new.

 

[Defiant]

its not a rebuilt alt. Its brand new.

Your brand-new alternator is dead. Re replace.

 

[DROOPY209]

Its either gunna be your battery, your alternator, a bad battery terminal or a loose bracket on your alternator.

That all it can be.

For future reference, those 3 lights you mentioned are always related with your charging system.

Whenever those 3 lights come on, make sure you're at home, because you might not make it home with just your battery working.

same thing happened to me....my windows would roll up really slow, My power steering wasnt working and it was my dead battery.

 

[Jackson]

Also check to make sure that the ground wires are connected to the power steering pump form the alternator.

 

[NitrousPete]

If you last alternator was weak for a while and you kept driving on it, you could have damaged the battery. I'd pull the battery and bring to AutoZone, let them put it on the battery load tester. A multi meter could be testing a surface charge, also it will only test voltage, not the most important thing, amperage, ie the ability of the battery to output a voltage under loads.

Provided that's all well, check the connections on the alternator, battery, and ground.

More than likely though, it sounds like a bad voltage regulator in the new alternator, or a bad connection to the feedback circut from them removing/installing the plug. If you had it done at a shop, bring it back and make them replace it.

 

[shadowdrag]

Many people here on dsmtuner jump to the conclusion and give out bad advice. My car is having the same symptom after alternator replace. People on this site said it was a bad alternator or replace the battery. I replaced the battery $55 and I am still having the same problem. On the highway lights are off, then when I give it some gas it comes on and goes away. Its been almost 6 month now and I just left those lights alone, my car runs fine. I think it might just be a bad ground somewhere or the belt needs to be tighten a bit.

hope this helps.

 

[Jackson]

If it was a belt it would squel like a SOB ( I had that problem). But check the ground that connects to the power steering pump, thats what solved my problem another time. A backyard mechanic taped it on and it fell off SO some shrinkwrap and fingers crossed it still hasn't fallen off..... or you can get the proper linkage if you don't wanna go getto superstar

 

[Wing0tj]

can anyone get a pic of the ground from the alterantor to the PS pump, I dont have my PS pump in my car anymore and I dont konw if or where htat ground is in the car ...

I am also having some strange electrical problems and I wanna try that before anything expensive.