Instrument Panel Flickers...But NOT all the time..

[paranoidTSi]

Ahh..the never ending chronicals of a BEATEN-THE-HELL-OUT-OF-BY-PREVIOUS-OWNER Talon...this problem is more of a annoyance more than anything, but I'd like to get it solved.

I have a very interesting problem..I have aftermarket gauge overlays..this has been happening for the last 6 months or so....if the car is left COLD and I go to turn it on the instrument panel is fine..I drive the car for 15 minutes..turn the car off...come back about 5 minutes later...turn the car over..I have to rev to 2.5K to get full power from the headlights and gauges..but when I drive suddenly the BATTERY, RADIATOR, BRAKE light will come on slightly and flicker..if I push on the brake long enough it goes away..but then I accelerate again they will flicker. It seems to be getting worse not better.

The alternator was tested at 14V, which the guy said was fine..I've since replaced the battery since the old one died..but I still am having the same problems. I've redone the terminals...I've checked the ground cable (with the exception of the one that goes underneath the motor by the starter?) everything seems to be fine there.

The ONLY thing I can really tell is that the alternator belt is looking a little on the worn out side, Is it possible that the BELT is causing this?

 

[Defiant]

when I drive suddenly the BATTERY, RADIATOR, BRAKE light will come on slightly and flicker

Your alternator is dying. Replace.

 

[armandovivoni]

chek the plug that goes on the alternator. make sure its well plugged in. also replace the belt before changing the alternator. same thing is happening to me. I replaced the alt. and it keeps doing it. all warning lights come on and off like crazy!

 

[paranoidTSi]

I got the alternator checked already, in fact I just did it again today and it is running fine.

They never do fully come on, they come on dim, go off, come on, go off..and the car is FINE if I start it from a COLD start...and it won't do it for like an hour into driving the car.

 

[93 bird]

I had the same problem for some time after i baught the car, paid no attention to it. my alternator died about 2 months after i baught the car. once i installed the new alternator the problem stopped.

 

[PropXprt]

Wonderful, the same thing just started to happen to me a few days ago.

Thanks for the info

 

[NitrousPete]

Two things you might want to try if your grounds etc. turn out to be OK.

First, swap out the battery with one from a friends car. If you have a bad battery, it might be shorting out when it gets warm. That will put a drain on the electrical system beyond what the alternator can maintain.

Providing the battery is good, the ghetto shadetree method of testing an alternator output is to put a voltmeter on the battery terminals and check idle voltage with NO ACCESSORIES ON. You should be getting between 13.4 and 13.8v DC. Now turn on all accessories except the wipers, and AC, you don't want a varrying load like that on. Set the heater controls to floor heat, make sure the defogger is off as that will cycle the AC, also headlights, high beams, radio (not too loud, just on and audible), heater blower motor on high, that should be enough. To really test it you can turn the rear window defroster on too. If you get more than about 0.4 volt drop in voltage, more than likely your alternator is weak and is the culprit.