808SC300

Even after replacing both the alternator and battery recently, I still have the problem of dimming lights. The alternator is a denso reman. and the battery is a costco (don't have the cranking and cold cranking amps on hand). The only other solution I have heard (and searched for) is the battery cables. Does anyone know if there is another solution? This occurs both while the car is running and off. If the car is off the dome light will flicker a bit. While running, the lights will dim if I use the window switch. Any help on this topic will be appreciated.

jwar

Thats really wierd. I've never heard of that happening.
What boggles me is that your lights dim when your car is on.
I don't know if that would be the battery cables.
Are you sure your alternator is installed correctly and is working correctly? You should get a battery tester and see where your problem is. If the battery is strong before, during and after using the car your problem is something else.

HD-GS4

It could be a bad alternator. Even though it has been rebuilt, it can still be bad. I went through 4 rebuilt alternators under warranty in a 3 month period once on a different car years ago. I learned from that experience to 1. Never buy parts from Pep Boys, and 2. Just because something is new, or rebuilt, doesn't exclude it from being the cause of your problems.

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

you really need to get a voltmeter on the battery and check to see what voltage it is holding with the blinkers off, then with the blinkers on. the voltage regulator should hold steady and not fluctuate just because the blinkers are on. it is designed to compensate for this.

if you are showing a voltage fluctuation when the blinkers are on, sand all your grounds (batery and chassis) then try again. i have seen on rare occasion that old bulbs soon to fail can draw excess current, but that's more rare than common. though that wouldnt apply to the window switch situation, it will allow you to get a reading from the voltmeter at the battery while testing it under load by using the blinkers or hazard lights.

carnal_c30

it could be the cables, sometimes they get corroded

plus its an old car, electrical connections arent exactly new

I'm considering something that will hopefully solve these problems and give us more power

I have the same problem

in my case its my power windows, when I lower both of them at the same time while the car is at idle or off it is SLOWWW... but when I'm on the freeway they lower at regular speed

I havent changed my alternator or battery, but I'll check them out to see if thats the problem

808SC300

So the cables are most likely my problem?

BLK13X

808SC300,

Try cleaning your battery terminals and ground terminal... do you have a big ICE system in your SC? I'd think that it would affect it even more with a system in the SC if the terminals are corroding?

I thought my alternator may need a rebuild but I had really bad terminals. I cleaned them up for the time being and they're fine now, so give it a go.

808SC300

My stereo is completely stock. But i doubt that the previous owner ever took notice of things such as crusty terminals. So I need to clean the terminals that connects to the battery and the chassis?

Taka

hey 808, have you resolved your problem? just curiuous since I'm investigating my problem like you have.

sctrd

I would check and clean the terminals (battery brush or baking soda and water)and make sure you have a good ground.It's a start and then check the output of the alternator with and without loads. Denso alts are not that bad and made pretty well,but like any rebuilt unit or new you never can tell.About the cosco battery (yuk ) but better than nothin......Aloja P>S. If you still have a problem after cleaning pm me and I'll test your car for you at my working place.

asnatlas

iTrader: (2)

I have been noticing this problem also... I have cleaned and replaced the ends on my connections to the battery and still having this problem, Do I need to get all new cables ???

O.L.T. I have not done your test yet as because I don't have a voltmeter handy, but I have new connections and a new battery, but I weill do this test as soon as I can to see what results I get...

Any more info on this ???
Shawn

Buttercup

I had a problem when I touched the brake and the lights would dim and the radio would shut off. The turn signal would do the same but at a lesser value. I ended up taking ~200 grit sand paper and sanded the battery terminal and the problem just about went away. The radio doesn't die but the headlights dim ever so slighty.

If it's not the battery terminals then it's probably the ground connections. I don't know where they all are but on the sc300 there's one on the intake manifold and another on the frame near the oil filter.

Kragen gives a free test on the electrical system.

keeper15

new guy here...ive also got some diming of the lights when touching the brakes...im informed it could be a bad altenator...i recently bought this car and love it...my wife drives it mostly...ive also found that both fog lights are not coming on when switched,so maybe the ground is in the bulbs and this could cause the short...any ideas...thanks