flakey electrical problem?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2005
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flakey electrical problem? I have a 98 z28 and every once in a while all my lights start flickering interior and exterior and the voltage gage starts dancing around a little. I have checked all the grounds the battery is new and this has been going on for like 6 months so i dont think it the alt. There doesn't seem to be any common factors that start it either its really random. Any help would be great this things driving me nuts
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8
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Yeah man, I have a 98 t/a & that does the same thing. I would describe my guage activity as a twitching and my headlights as a flickering. I was looking for a solution when I found your post. My car also surges during moderate acceleration but not necessarily while the guages and lights are doing their dance. I have no idea if the two are related but I thought I would include incase the additional symptom might provide further insight. I have my suspicions about the A.I.R. (I hear it cutting on and off at inappropriate times).
I am a freak for replacing worn parts, cleaning my engine (inside) and doing routine maintenance ... so my ride is in top shape. My car is also very near stock (k&n, racetronix fuel pump system, ngk, taylor wires, lid, borla). This is really pissing me off because I know it is some kind of screwed-up, hard-to-find, electrical bug. Consumer Reports found the electrical system on these late model F-bodies to be, at least statistically, the most troublesome aspect of ownership.
If anyone can solve this riddle, I will not hesitate to declare that man to be the King.
I am a freak for replacing worn parts, cleaning my engine (inside) and doing routine maintenance ... so my ride is in top shape. My car is also very near stock (k&n, racetronix fuel pump system, ngk, taylor wires, lid, borla). This is really pissing me off because I know it is some kind of screwed-up, hard-to-find, electrical bug. Consumer Reports found the electrical system on these late model F-bodies to be, at least statistically, the most troublesome aspect of ownership.
If anyone can solve this riddle, I will not hesitate to declare that man to be the King.
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8
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Riddle Me This!!! What exactly is the solution (or the cause) of the headlight flickering and guage cluster ticking on the late model F-bodies?
What about the random A.I.R. spasms at normal operating temperature?
And last but not least, I have a mild, but noticable surging which is most apparent during moderate acceleration.
I have a basically stock 98 LS1 T/A w/ M4 (k&n, racetronix pump, ngk, taylor wires, borla). I keep a clean machine, inside and out. No codes - the car thinks that it is running fine - but I know better!
Any man able to solve these issues shall most assuredly be declared the King.
What about the random A.I.R. spasms at normal operating temperature?
And last but not least, I have a mild, but noticable surging which is most apparent during moderate acceleration.
I have a basically stock 98 LS1 T/A w/ M4 (k&n, racetronix pump, ngk, taylor wires, borla). I keep a clean machine, inside and out. No codes - the car thinks that it is running fine - but I know better!
Any man able to solve these issues shall most assuredly be declared the King.
Flickering lights is due to GM quality. All of them do this. Maybe they need to hire better Electrical Engineers and circuit designers? No big deal to most of us.
AIR issues? Hell, remove the AIR and EGR systems and tune them out
Surging is probably just the IAC valve moving in and out on the t-body. Or maybe a faulty MAF. Or maybe faulty O2 sensor(s). Or maybe dirty fuel injectors.
AIR issues? Hell, remove the AIR and EGR systems and tune them out
Surging is probably just the IAC valve moving in and out on the t-body. Or maybe a faulty MAF. Or maybe faulty O2 sensor(s). Or maybe dirty fuel injectors.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,012
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From: Beaumont, TX
Some people have had problems with flickering from day one... don't know if this is the particular problem either of you are having (might be something much harder to find! 
), but many of those people have eliminating it by upgrading to a higher-power alternator. The stock ones often aren't able to adequately handle the load.
), but many of those people have eliminating it by upgrading to a higher-power alternator. The stock ones often aren't able to adequately handle the load. 
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 150
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From: Vacaville, CA
surging I had a small idle stumble as well as the surging at moderate speeds. You won't believe how much this helps, but my '99 Z feels like I woke up an extra 75 horsepower by simply taking the MAF out and cleaning the sensors with Electrical cleaner. Letting it dry. Re-installing and problem solved. Could not believe the difference. I hope that this helps.
