Glen
--Previous Message--
: OK that's a good clue.
: Do the lights dim when the heater is
: turned on?
: This will tell if it's isolated to the
: directional circuit or if it's due to
: any draw on the system with lights on.
: Also try it with the hazard warning
: lights on.
: Just for drill, you might check all of
: the fuse contacts, make sure they are
: clean, and check the wiring harness
: grounds.
: With enough info, we may be able to get
: this sorted out.
: Glen
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: The flickering is in unison with the
: turn
: signals. The flickering is slight
: dimming so the lights don't go off and
: on but very noticeable.
:
: --Previous Message--
: OK so both headlights and parking
: lights
: are flickering with directionals on.
: Is it a random flicker or do they flash
: in unison with the directional flasher?
: How about with the emergency flashers
: on?
: The facts that the battery is strong
: enough to crank the engine, and that
: the alternator is putting out 14V,
: suggest that your problem is in the
: wiring.
: Glen
:
: --Previous Message--
: Hi Glen
: All lights flicker. When the parking
: lights are on and the turn signals are
: on, the parking lights flicker. When
: the headlights are on and the turn
: signals are on, same thing happened.
: The turn signals seem to work fine
: regardless whether the lights are on or
: not. I did mention that when it was
: tested, the alternator's output was 14
: volts. What a dilema
:
: --Previous Message--
: Oscar you need to describe the problem
: specifically, that will help
: troubleshoot correctly vs just
: eliminating possibilities; it will
: likely save time & $$ in the long
: run, unless you stumble onto something.
: As I asked in a previous reply-
: What exactly happens when you use the
: directionals with lights on?
:
: Do the directionals and lights work
: independent of each other?
:
: How about with the heater on while
: lights are on?
: (this puts a heavy load on the system)
:
: You'll also likely need a wiring
: diagram & test light.
: Glen
:
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: Right now, the ground wire from the
: battery has 2 connectors. One to the
: frame and one to the engine. I was
: thinking that maybe the connector to
: the frame is no longer making good
: contact. I will check that first.
:
: --Previous Message--
: Oscar if your alternator is putting out
: 14V and the battery has enough to crank
: the engine, your problem is somewhere
: in the light circuit ie ground, short,
: etc.
: Glen
:
: --Previous Message--
: After failing the emission test 4 yrs
: in
: a row, my GT6 passed this time. I
: haven't done or touched the engine
: except for changing the distributor
: cap. Maybe their machine is broken. As
: for the flickering lights, I cheated
: and ran a separate line and battery to
: the front lights so nothing flickered
: when the turn signals were on. LOL. I
: had the charging system checked at a
: shop and it produces 14 volts so maybe
: I will just replace the alternator. I
: don't drive much at night anyway. For
: now, I am good to go!
:
: --Previous Message--
: Thanks Doug, I will do the test as you
: mentioned. My alternator is probably
: over 15 yrs old and it may need
: rebuilding, althouth at idle, I get
: over 13 volts reading.
:
: --Previous Message--
: I am very fortunate. About a decade
: ago
: the state of NC implemented a rolling
: cut off age. Once your car reaches 35
: years of age no inspection at all is
: required. I guess their assumption is
: that after your car reaches that age it
: is owned as a labor of love, not
: necessity, and that you will be
: maintaining it because you love the
: car.
:
: As to the alternator, worn brushes can
: make the voltage level oscillate
: between high and low points. Usually
: this is accompanied by a flickering
: charge warning lamp... but not always.
: Another thing that can happen is a
: failure of the onboard electronics in
: the alternator allowing excessive AC
: ripple to make it past the diodes. You
: can measure this by connecting a
: voltmeter across a good ground point
: and the big output terminal on the
: alternator. The DC voltage should
: measure somewhere between 13 and 14.5
: volts with the engine running. If you
: switch your meter to AC volts (leave
: the meter lead connections the way they
: were) you will see a value anywhere
: from a few milli-volts up to maybe 1/2
: volt. There are different opinions
: about what is acceptable. Regardless
: of what you find on the web, if you see
: 1/2 volt AC or more, there is likely a
: problem with the alternator.
:
: Those high AC voltage swings can
: contribute to lights and accessories
: "flickering".
:
: (OH... and make these voltage tests
: while driving around. Extend the meter
: leads and run them into the passenger
: compartment so you or your passenger
: can look at the meter while driving.
: And don't use a Smiths gauge to measure
: voltage. They respond much too slow.)
:
: Doug L.
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: Hi Glen,
: In Delaware, there emission test
: waivers available if you spend the
: minimum amount to try to fix the
: emissions. In my case, I have been
: using the waiver for the past 4 years.
: I think Lucas has a reputation of not
: being a verify reliable product as they
: get old. Over the years, I have
: replaced electrical connectors and
: wires.
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