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alternator acting up (I think)

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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 05:34 PM
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Default alternator acting up (I think)

First day really DRIVING the car and I am having some problems with the electrical system at HOT idle. When the car is cold/cool or off idle (1500+ RPM) all my lights are bright and I don't have any problems. Once the engine is HOT (been driving for a while), if I let the engine come down to idle (1000RPM) my lights start to dim and things flicker. If I come off idle the problem goes away.


I'm THINKING that the alternator (stock alt) is getting more heat into it (motor plates block some air flow and making more HP/heat) and loosing some of it's power capacity. I was thinking of going up to the "Mr Alternator" 160 amp unit. Any ideas? I know it can't be loose wires as:

a) I checked EVERYTHING
b) it works fine if I let everything cool down a bit

and the battery is new and full.

160 alt I'm looking at: http://www.mralternator.com/alternators/fbody.html
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