Hi Guys,

Just purchased a 2002 Firehawk w/ built LQ9 , turbo. Was cruising around last night for a pretty good while and noticed the headlights getting a little dim then would get bright. Also watching the volt gauge and it would get pegged in the red and stay there for a while then fall back down to normal then right back up.

This morning , drove a mile to my closest advance auto parts , they did their test, all was normal needle stayed straight up till it got hot again then and back into the red pegged again. Its goes between pegged and normal , doesn't seem to matter if its idling, or going down road, throttle has no effect where the needle goes....bad voltage regulator? If it needs replacing I want a very good alternator...any recommendations or ideas on what/ where to buy?

Could it be something else causing these wild swings on the volt gauge, and the headlights doing what they are doing?

Lastly is it hurting it to drive it with he volt gauge pegged? Ive only dealt with one going bad with the needle going the other way, easy to see that was the issue then?

Any help will be greatly appreciated guys!
Thanks

 

Have you actually put a volt meter on the alternator when it's doing this? If not, you need to do that because who know what the "red" zone is on a factory gauge.

Andrew