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03-21-2003, 12:38 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: escondido, ca 92026
Posts: 1,222
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headlights/dash lights pulsing at idle
What's the most common reason for this to occur...??? I suspect it's the alternator, but would like some opinions and experiences...
thanks.
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'72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project |
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03-21-2003, 01:10 PM
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#2 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Muskegon,MI,USA
Posts: 6,026
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From what you are describing it is the regulator, (either internal or external).
Jim |
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03-21-2003, 01:42 PM
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#3 |
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Half a bubble off!
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Winfield, Ks, USA
Posts: 5,588
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My guesss would also be the regulator. Are you still using the old voltage reg? Internally regulated alternator will more than likely end this problem. It's a pretty easy changeover.
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Just call me LB.  '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads. |
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03-21-2003, 02:10 PM
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#4 |
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ready for reassembly
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Barrie ONT, Canada
Posts: 413
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well here's my situation......sometimes at idle when everything is on(lights, heater radio) if i give it a little more gas to bring the revs upto around 900-1000, the lights(dash and headlights) get brighter and the heater fan speed increases??? do i have the same problem, or is it the actual alternator??
jason 
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stock 71 4x4 2003 Jeep Liberty, rocky mountain edition I'm obsessed, and wouldn't have it any other way! |
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03-21-2003, 02:12 PM
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#5 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: escondido, ca 92026
Posts: 1,222
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barn9, yeah I still have the old style external regulator, might be a good time to change over....
I'll do a search cuz I know that subject has been beat to death... I would think this would be a good subject for the FAQ section...
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'72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project Last edited by bigvinnie; 03-21-2003 at 02:24 PM. |
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03-21-2003, 02:16 PM
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#6 |
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ready for reassembly
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Barrie ONT, Canada
Posts: 413
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sorry to weasel in on your post bigvinnie.....just reading it made me think of mine, so I asked a question,too
 Jason
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stock 71 4x4 2003 Jeep Liberty, rocky mountain edition I'm obsessed, and wouldn't have it any other way! |
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03-21-2003, 02:41 PM
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#7 |
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Spank 'em if you got 'em!
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 628
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Same thing was happening to me about a month ago, really bad. When I was at a stop sign at night I couldn't even see my guages. I actually ended up burning out one of my headlights. So, I replace my alternator and no more problem.
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Long Knight '71 C-20, 350ci, TH350, Edl. 1406 Carb w/elec.choke, Ignitor ignition, Viper Tires, Orange Dipstick |
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03-21-2003, 03:09 PM
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#8 |
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its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,690
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Ensuring the alt is grounded properly sometimes helps this, but normally it is just the alt getting old.
Sometimes it just can't be avoided, and if it is only a little bit, I would ignore it personally. |
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03-21-2003, 04:08 PM
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#9 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: escondido, ca 92026
Posts: 1,222
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looks like 3 votes for the external regulator and 2 for the alternator... switching to an internal regulated alternator should cover me in both cases...
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'72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project |
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03-21-2003, 07:27 PM
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#10 |
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Formerly yellow72custom
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 7,531
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I had a similiar problem, ignored it, and 6 months later my ext. voltage regulator went out. I replaced it at a whopping cost of $11, and it solved the problem. It wouldn't be a bad idea to upgrade to a internal regulated alternator though, i wish i would have done it when i replaced my alternator.
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'72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg |
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03-22-2003, 08:25 AM
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#11 |
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1969 Custom 30 wrecker
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Pottsville, Pa
Posts: 2,611
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My vote is that it could be either the regulator or the alternator. If the regulator is old, I'd just replace it and see if this fixes it. Even if it doesn't, you'll probably save some trouble down the road by putting a new one on.
Come to think of it, I've been putting off doing this on one of my Chevelles with the same problem... 
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Bob 63 Impala 283/PG/3.36 (under restoration) 66 Impala 327/PG/3.36 66 Chevelle SS 409/M22/3.55 69 Chevelle 307/PG/3.08 (future restoration) 69 C10 short stepside 454/TH350/3.73 69 Custom 30 tow truck 350/4 spd/4.10 (resto done, CRUISIN TIME!) 71 Cheyenne 20 fleetside 350/4 spd/4.10 71 Chevelle 6/PG/3.08 72 Chevelle 454/M21/4.10 |
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03-22-2003, 09:10 AM
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#12 |
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Senior Member
 Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: WIS
Posts: 1,752
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1/2 waving
One diode in the voltage regulator is open. That causes a pulsed dc output known as half-waving. Replace regualtor or entire alternator.......Zoomy
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03-22-2003, 09:25 AM
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#13 |
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Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Woodstock, IL
Posts: 7,020
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Time to convert to a internally regulated alt.
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