New alternator, lights pulsating

[Lucas03es]

After putting a new alt in my buddies car, after sitting for about three weeks, he started it and it ran fine. Now when you start it the interior lights pulsate (all interior lights), idles at about 2k rpms, dies when comes to a stop when in neutral, and there is a knocking noise behind the driver's wheel that you can only hear from outside the car. Could it be something with his dsmlink messing up? I think its v.2 but I haven't taken a good look at it yet. Any ideas on what the problem could be? Is there a way to easily reset dsmlink, because I don't know much about it.

 

[dawid4444]

check all ground on the new alternator
i had the same problem and i forgot about the ground on the alternator
or maybe his battery is very low and thats way the car idles 2k rpms because the car wants to charge the battery
idk check all wires and the ground

 

[agarc023]

I got the same problem with my lights pulsating, but I think it's because I have a autozone alternator on there. Does his pulsate differently in different rpm ranges too?

 

[Blurred Talon]

Grounding issue.
I have this problem in my Talon too. I need to not be lazy and fix it.

 

[Lucas03es]

I will be going there tomorrow, but I do not remember a dedicated ground strap?

 

[spawn87]

you simply got a defective alt. so best way is take it back and get another one... if your lights are pulsating it means its having a tough time recharging the system... do you get any lights on dash turn on (bat, brake, radiator) if so your voltage reg is bad.

alt installs are pretty strait forward so you should be ok as long as you double check your install.

if you have any doughts of the battery go get it tested also...autozone does it for free.

 

[Blurred Talon]

I will be going there tomorrow, but I do not remember a dedicated ground strap?

There is, I've changed my alt more then once on my 2G it's an odd shape and has a little key thing to hold it on the alt.

My reman. alt came without a ground stud so I have to improvise. Sadly it didn't work well. My alt charges fine too, all accessories on and 14V at idle (Canadian DSMs have a 90amp alt).

 

[Lucas03es]

Well I did hook up the ground when I put on the new alt then, couldit really go bad in ~30 miles?

 

[Squirrel8811]

Had the same problem and it was a bad alternator. I had to argue with the guy from Oriliey's to take it back because it was the 3rd one from there in 6 months. Went to autozone and got another one. Now its fine. And FYI it will probably test fine. Mine did but another one still fixed it. And mine only lasted about the same amount of time about 50 miles.

 

[Lucas03es]

I looked at the ground strap and it appears nice and tight, but could it only having an 8mm bolt be part of the blame why it wouldn't have a good ground?

Could this also cause misfiring?

 

[knochgoon24]

The alternator can actually ground through the case and to the block that way. You don't need a huge ground off the alternator. It just helps ensure a good ground.

Check all your other grounds, all your positive cables, and also the alternator fuse in the fuse box.