[RESOLVED] Weird!! some dash lights dim at idle! Help please!!!

[tsi1991awd]

Its me yet again with something that is stumping me. I was coming home from work today, everything was fine. I stopped by Napa to pick up my radiator hoses and when I was leaving, started the car, and there are 3 lights that are dim when the car idles!

The Battery light, Brake light (e brake) and a yellow one next to the check engine...I assume its the oil light, even though I thought oil lights just looked like the little oil can. But its probably the oil light.

But the weird thing is, they aren't ON...you know when you turn your car to the on position, the dash lights come on and they're really bright? Well its not like that...and the brake light, if I put the e-brake up the light becomes bright. But at idle its just very dim...kind of like when your fuel light is trying to come on at the beginning...its very dim. This happens with all 3 of those lights as I said.

The second I give it gas, the lights go completely off! But when the car is back at idle, they come back on. When I'm driving they are off. I don't understand. When I got home, first thing I did was check the oil. Its still good and its still at the same level as when I got it changed. My oil pressure gauge doesn't show that the pressure is low or to the point that the oil light would come on. And I took the negative connection off of the battery for 5 minutes and put it back on but the lights still come on.

I have no idea what's up with it...I think its something to do with the gauge cluster or something...I don't know. Because like I said right when I give it gas, they go off...but when it idles the lights are on. Has this ever happened to anybody? What do I do??

 

[tsi1991awd]

I think the problem is the alternator...I finally found a thread that was for the same exact problem as mine. He said the brake, coolant (what I thought was oil) and battery light came on and off randomly. Which mine does, kinda....so I'm almost 100% sure that's the problem. What do the guru's here think?

 

[HookedOnFonix05]

Bingo! its the alternator, but 1st check your fusible link just to make sure your not driving around on the battery. If you want to verify it, get a voltmeter and touch the connectors to the battery posts + and - , rev the engine to about 3K and the volt meter should say at least 14.1v anything below replace the alternator. Good luck.

 

[tsi1991awd]

Thanks bro, I'm actually just going to take my wifes car to work today. I don't really have time to check the voltage out right now (getting ready for work) I'm picking up an alternator from Autozone after work. I read a couple things saying don't buy them from Autozone, but they're the only place that has them in stock right now and I can't afford to wait around for one. Plus it has a lifetime warranty, so I'm not too worried. If I have to replace it again, I have to replace it again. Not a huge deal.

 

[heckles]

dont forget to inspect the belt, and to make sure the tensioner screw is tight.

 

[Defiant]

The three lights is an odd characteristic of DSMs, which glow when the alternator dies. There's probably some reason for it, but I can hardly keep P=EI straight.

 

[tsi1991awd]

Well I tested just now.

At idle, it is about 13v but when you turn the lights and A/C and fan on high it drops down to 11.5v. Then at 1,500rpm with the load it is like 12.5v...when everything is off and back at idle, it's 13v. Then when it's revved to 1,500 with no load the voltage goes up. So the alternator isn't COMPLETELY dead but it needs replacing I assume?

 

[tsi1991awd]

So do those voltage numbers look a bit low? I don't see why the dash lights would glow if the alternator wasn't bad....I bought a new one that will be put in tomorrow.

 

[tsi1991awd]

Would the battery cause all of those lights to come on? I'm thinking not, but it just seems odd that it seems like it's semi-charging or something and not other times.

 

[kwAlk23]

it is your alternator. had this problem twice, both with the garbage alternator they sale at advance. Replace it before your car dies.

 

[tsi1991awd]

I bought one from Autozone earlier tonight. Mainly because they were the only ones around that had one in stock and it has a lifetime warranty....so I'll just get another one plus an hour of my time and be set.

 

[92_awdtsi]

These forums are definately great for new dsm owners such as myself. I had the same issue my lights dimmed when i was at a red light then the car just died. obviously was the alternator since it wouldnt hold a charge. But any issues I have , I check here first to see if there are any similar problems with suggestions

 

[tsi1991awd]

Just an update...it WAS the alternator. I had the battery tested just for the hell of it and it came back as a good battery but with a low charge. So I went ahead and did the alternator....took a little while because I had to make a hole in the plastic to get the pivot bolt out. But it was pretty straight forward. The belt was torqued good, not too tight not too loose. No more dash lights.

 

[Brutus]

Just to add a little, I had the same problem and it turned out to be my altenator. I was like you and went to Autozone and bought the instock replacement with the lifetime warrenty. It lasted one month and I was replacing it. They are remanufactured junk, and dont deal well with heat at all. But $130 gets you an altenator for life, so what do you expect?

 

[tsi1991awd]

Yea, this was $119 with a $55 core charge....they had it in stock, so I got it. I needed it since I drive the Talon everyday to work. If I have to replace it in a month, then oh well. If it lasts a while, then great. But I'll just keep getting another one until I get a good one.