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Old 11-12-2010, 10:30 AM   #1
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HVAC lighting slowly flickers at idle

What would cause this? A bad alternator or bad battery? After driving it for lets say an hour , you really do not notice it, just at start up. If I have to replace the battery I want to put in an optima, which optima fits the best?


Last edited by livin_in_a_boxster; 11-12-2010 at 10:35 AM.
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Old 11-15-2010, 12:23 PM   #2
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bump! anyone?
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Old 11-15-2010, 12:33 PM   #3
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i will take a stab. if it was my car i would hook up my 4 channel lab scope and monitor the batt,alt and ballast supply voltage and i would look for spikes while running . i would mainly look at alt and if pushed for a guess.....voltage regulator....if they are like the old bosch they are held on to the rear of the alt by 2 screws. like any electrical problem start at the source..the batt...is it old,low on water,connections tight etc ?
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Old 11-15-2010, 01:13 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by extanker
i will take a stab. if it was my car i would hook up my 4 channel lab scope and monitor the batt,alt and ballast supply voltage and i would look for spikes while running . i would mainly look at alt and if pushed for a guess.....voltage regulator....if they are like the old bosch they are held on to the rear of the alt by 2 screws. like any electrical problem start at the source..the batt...is it old,low on water,connections tight etc ?
Thanks for the response. The battery has been drained several times. There is water in it though and all the connections are clean and tight. But I am guessing it might not be holding a charge like it should and causeing a strain on the system, what should the battery test at voltage wise when the car is off?
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Old 11-15-2010, 01:57 PM   #5
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depends on age,type. a brand new super duty batt might show 12.80
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Old 11-15-2010, 02:19 PM   #6
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I believe I used a yellow Optima 49R in my 986/
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Old 11-18-2010, 05:12 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by livin_in_a_boxster
Thanks for the response. The battery has been drained several times. There is water in it though and all the connections are clean and tight. But I am guessing it might not be holding a charge like it should and causeing a strain on the system, what should the battery test at voltage wise when the car is off?
I just went through this exact same scenario; to make a long story short, it was the alternator. And replacing it is a relatively simple task that takes about 2 hours if you're not the best mechanic (i.e. me).


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Old 11-19-2010, 06:44 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Oaktown 986
I just went through this exact same scenario; to make a long story short, it was the alternator. And replacing it is a relatively simple task that takes about 2 hours if you're not the best mechanic (i.e. me).


Best,

Jon
Thanks for the reply. So that seems like a difinate diagnoses, you get to the alternator behind the seats right?
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Old 11-19-2010, 12:32 PM   #9
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I'm having the same issue, but with all of my lighting, both interior and exterior, and I believe it's the alternator, as well.

Yes, the alternator's accessed from behind the seats. Here's a DIY from the forum which someone wrote up. May help you out and be a handy reference.


How to Change your Alternator

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