flicker - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kiley · 01-06-2005, 01:16 AM

Today my horn started to randomly honk whenever I turned the wheel. Then tonight I notice that the headlights, tail lights and just about every other light was flickering at a stead pulse. Didn't matter what rpm the engine was at. Any ideas?

drink2mny · 01-06-2005, 01:53 AM

Ok. First off, stop what your doing right now......
Now go back a day and try to remember where you where.
Were you on a highway or back country road by yourself??
were there cornfields with strange markings???
Any weird acft ( or shhhh! UFO's)
How about bright lights from the sky????

Worse case, is anything sticking out of your backside that hurts at all and looks like a satalite dish??

Any of this ring a bell..

No??

Then it might just be an electrical problem.
But thats just a guess

kiley · 01-06-2005, 02:44 AM

ooookk. Would my alternator be giving up the ghost?

jimfulco · 01-13-2005, 03:04 AM

The horn is probably shorting out in the column or under the steering wheel. The flickering is probably the alternator or voltage regulator.

greasemonkey · 01-13-2005, 03:10 AM

OK, I think the drinking guy is drunk.
From personal experience, the horn could be grounding out on the little screw that holds the turn signal lever on if it has backed out any. The flickering lights sounds like something in your charging system, most parts stores check all that stuff for free.

kiley · 01-14-2005, 11:43 AM

The horn honking thing seems to happen whenever there is frost in the morning. It is related to turning the steering wheel. I'll take it apart and check things out inside.

The alternator started cooking my battery the other day and all the lights have been really bright the last few days so I'm replacing the alternator. I wondered if the flicker was an early warning sign of alternator failure. It's whining and putting out too much power now.

Harold Shepard · 01-14-2005, 01:58 PM

If its a external reg. you need to replace the regulator as well, or you will be doing it over again. Harold

kiley · 01-15-2005, 07:14 PM

It's internally regulated.

I replaced it. My battery is boiling still. The caps pop up and you can hear it even with the hood shut when the engine is off (little scary).

drink2mny · 01-16-2005, 08:41 AM

How big of an alt do you have and how old of a battery do you have??

IS the steering wheel after market??

kiley · 01-20-2005, 01:29 AM

Replaced the battery and alternator and still, I'm having problems with the battery boiling. Don't know what to do. The acid is spitting out and getting everywhere.

cableguy0 · 01-20-2005, 01:32 AM

are you sure its internally regulated???

useRc10 · 01-20-2005, 01:50 AM

my horn used to do that and it was teh screw on the turn signal grounding on the horn from the grant steering wheel...i bought a new turn signal cam (cheap) and it fixed the problem

Brainchild · 01-20-2005, 01:52 AM

Do you have the wiring right on the alt.If it's not hooked up to a gauge,or idiot light it will not know when to shut off and just keep charging.Here is hte FAQ,check into it,hopefully it will solve the problem.

The horn honking is in the column,is it a tilt that is loose by chance.I've had them short out from being too loose.

Good luck

kiley · 01-20-2005, 02:30 AM

I asked for an internally regulated alternator. I can't find anything in line with the wiring that would indicate otherwise. It's wired correctly and it's hooked up to the factory guage. The needle sits right in the middle. It was a little on the C side with the old alternator.

I recently installed a new starter if that helps.

A.P. · 01-20-2005, 08:17 AM

If you have a volt meter, turn your engine on and check for volt reading. In truck the volts meter reads 14V.

01-06-2005, 01:16 AM	#1
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	flicker Today my horn started to randomly honk whenever I turned the wheel. Then tonight I notice that the headlights, tail lights and just about every other light was flickering at a stead pulse. Didn't matter what rpm the engine was at. Any ideas?

01-06-2005, 01:53 AM	#2
drink2mny Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: spokane wa Posts: 2,189	Ok. First off, stop what your doing right now...... Now go back a day and try to remember where you where. Were you on a highway or back country road by yourself?? were there cornfields with strange markings??? Any weird acft ( or shhhh! UFO's) How about bright lights from the sky???? Worse case, is anything sticking out of your backside that hurts at all and looks like a satalite dish?? Any of this ring a bell.. No?? Then it might just be an electrical problem. But thats just a guess __________________ Support The Board

01-13-2005, 03:10 AM	#5
greasemonkey Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pace, FL Posts: 2,155	OK, I think the drinking guy is drunk. From personal experience, the horn could be grounding out on the little screw that holds the turn signal lever on if it has backed out any. The flickering lights sounds like something in your charging system, most parts stores check all that stuff for free. __________________ 1942 Master Deluxe 1969 C/10 1985 Blazer CUCV 1987 Jimmy 2004 Tahoe 2005 Silverado 1500 2005 Silverado 3500

01-16-2005, 08:41 AM	#9
drink2mny Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: spokane wa Posts: 2,189	How big of an alt do you have and how old of a battery do you have?? IS the steering wheel after market?? __________________ Support The Board

01-20-2005, 01:29 AM	#10
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	Replaced the battery and alternator and still, I'm having problems with the battery boiling. Don't know what to do. The acid is spitting out and getting everywhere. __________________ 71 C20 72 K5

01-06-2005, 02:44 AM	#3
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	ooookk. Would my alternator be giving up the ghost?

01-13-2005, 03:04 AM	#4
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	The horn is probably shorting out in the column or under the steering wheel. The flickering is probably the alternator or voltage regulator.

01-14-2005, 11:43 AM	#6
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	The horn honking thing seems to happen whenever there is frost in the morning. It is related to turning the steering wheel. I'll take it apart and check things out inside. The alternator started cooking my battery the other day and all the lights have been really bright the last few days so I'm replacing the alternator. I wondered if the flicker was an early warning sign of alternator failure. It's whining and putting out too much power now.

01-14-2005, 01:58 PM	#7
Harold Shepard Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canton North Carolina Posts: 466	If its a external reg. you need to replace the regulator as well, or you will be doing it over again. Harold

01-15-2005, 07:14 PM	#8
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	It's internally regulated. I replaced it. My battery is boiling still. The caps pop up and you can hear it even with the hood shut when the engine is off (little scary).

01-20-2005, 01:32 AM	#11
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	are you sure its internally regulated??? __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

01-20-2005, 01:50 AM	#12
useRc10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mechanicsville, VA, 23111 Posts: 1,138	my horn used to do that and it was teh screw on the turn signal grounding on the horn from the grant steering wheel...i bought a new turn signal cam (cheap) and it fixed the problem __________________ -'02 Chevy Avalanche, 5.3L, 4x4... needing a small lift and bigger tires -'72 Chevy C-10(350, bored 60 over)dual flowmasters, 3 on the tree -'85 K5 Blazer,305 NO MORE...350 is in,2" lift,33" Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radials -dads '70 burb (red, 5-7 drop, 350...) www.geocities.com/userc10/truckhome.html AIM: Auntjoedadda

01-20-2005, 01:52 AM	#13
Brainchild Still drivin' a Rat Rod Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Monett Missouri Posts: 4,925	Do you have the wiring right on the alt.If it's not hooked up to a gauge,or idiot light it will not know when to shut off and just keep charging.Here is hte FAQ,check into it,hopefully it will solve the problem. The horn honking is in the column,is it a tilt that is loose by chance.I've had them short out from being too loose. Good luck __________________ Rusty Member #13872 Instead of saying.....you are a discomfort in the back of my front.....one should be able to say...... you are a pain in the a$# 71 GMC LWB 49 Chevy 85 Chevy G20 Check out my website

01-20-2005, 02:30 AM	#14
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	I asked for an internally regulated alternator. I can't find anything in line with the wiring that would indicate otherwise. It's wired correctly and it's hooked up to the factory guage. The needle sits right in the middle. It was a little on the C side with the old alternator. I recently installed a new starter if that helps. __________________ 71 C20 72 K5

01-20-2005, 08:17 AM	#15
A.P. Black 72 Chevy Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 662	If you have a volt meter, turn your engine on and check for volt reading. In truck the volts meter reads 14V.



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