Topic: dimming headlights
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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hey guys.
i apologize in advance if there's an existing thread around about this.
tonight i was at a friend's place and we were setting my timing. during the proceeding test drive, and on the way home afterwards, my headlights would suddenly get noticeably brighter and then drop off to what was what i would consider to be the normal brightness for my old, worn out headlights. this happened maybe 5 times in a half hour long drive home.
is this a voltage regulator issue (and does that mean that my 1 year old alternator is shot?). is my voltage regulator even in my alternator?
my battery gage shows pretty much centered at zero with no fluctuation.
or could it just be old headlights?
thanks for any suggestions.
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Well, Jeff, it could be two possible scenarios.
One, the voltage reg. is not functioning properly.
Two, there may be a ground problem for the lights, but usually, this only effects one side or the other. Rarely both sides. Do the dash lights do the same thing? If so, then I would be getting the alt. checked out. (Yes, the reg. is internal to the alt.) Put a voltage meter on the batt., and drive it around until the lights get brighter, and notice the voltage. If it is overly high(over 14.75 or so), then the reg. is malfunctioning.
If no other lights do this, then I would suggest a thorough check of the power/grounds to the headlights.
One, the voltage reg. is not functioning properly.
Two, there may be a ground problem for the lights, but usually, this only effects one side or the other. Rarely both sides. Do the dash lights do the same thing? If so, then I would be getting the alt. checked out. (Yes, the reg. is internal to the alt.) Put a voltage meter on the batt., and drive it around until the lights get brighter, and notice the voltage. If it is overly high(over 14.75 or so), then the reg. is malfunctioning.
If no other lights do this, then I would suggest a thorough check of the power/grounds to the headlights.
Joel Adams
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in Forum: C3 Electrical
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