Flickering lights
02-13-2008, 09:38 AM
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Flickering lights I have had this problem for a few months. All my lilghts, interior and the exterior lights flicker. They dont go out all the way but flicker between full bright(normal) and dim. Also, my battery guage moves, sometimes below half and sometimes stays above half. Is my alternator going bad (does it slowly go bad?) or it maybe a ground? I had my battery ground cable replaced last year from a dealership, so i am doubting its that.
02-13-2008, 09:50 AM
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I can almost guarantee you it's your alternator. I pulled mine out last year and broke my excitor wire, common mistake. 
Anyway, I've almost spent a year trying to fix the flickering thinking it was the wire and I even when and had the dealership rewire it a couple of weeks ago. This whole time I thought it couldn't be the alternator because I had it rebuilt and I had it tested by three different places with everybody telling me it was perfect. Finally this past Sunday I gave in and tried a new alternator anyway and I haven't seen a flicker since. I bought the new alternator from o'reilly for $150 with a lifetime warranty.
Good luck.
Anyway, I've almost spent a year trying to fix the flickering thinking it was the wire and I even when and had the dealership rewire it a couple of weeks ago. This whole time I thought it couldn't be the alternator because I had it rebuilt and I had it tested by three different places with everybody telling me it was perfect. Finally this past Sunday I gave in and tried a new alternator anyway and I haven't seen a flicker since. I bought the new alternator from o'reilly for $150 with a lifetime warranty.Good luck.
02-13-2008, 10:06 AM
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Got the same thing going on. I had alternator checked and it was "OK". I put it back in and the flickering stopped for a few weeks but started back up. I'm about to go ahead and replace it anyway.
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02-14-2008, 02:51 PM
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I used the new alternator from O'Reilly. I couldn't afford the GM one right now. It came with a lifetime warranty and seems to be working perfect so far. It was around $150. Most people recommend the GM one if you can afford it.
02-14-2008, 06:11 PM
#15
My lights pulsate a little bit. Notice it most when coasting down a hill or something like that. gauge will be just over 14V then fall down to a bit under 13V fairly quickly just to pop back up again where it was. Doesn't do it near as much or as noticeably when driving down the road with the RPMs up over idle.
I'm too cheap/busy to replace it right now. It stays well within the safe range so I'll deal with it until I do my planned overhaul this summer. Or who knows, maybe I'll do an LS1 swap and be done with it
I'm too cheap/busy to replace it right now. It stays well within the safe range so I'll deal with it until I do my planned overhaul this summer. Or who knows, maybe I'll do an LS1 swap and be done with it
