Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

Power "Surging"

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 20, 2008 | 02:31 AM
  #1  
Vicinity's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
From: FL
Default Power "Surging"

My car, at night time when the lights come on, has power "surging". The lights dim every second, in a pattern. It's sorta to the engines idling.

When I give it gas to go it flickers faster.

I checked the ground wires. The battery is new. I'm thinking it MIGHT be the alternator, but if that were the case, the battery wouldn't constantly be charged, would it?

Last thing, the battery level indicator whatever on the dash jumps from 11 to the far white marker (like 15-16 I think) randomly depending on how the car feels.

Any help!?
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 12:35 AM
  #2  
Vicinity's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
From: FL
Default

Bump. Anyone know?
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 08:59 AM
  #3  
imnotplutonium's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Houston,TX
Default

anything you did recently with electronics? it could be the alt going out. or it could be a wire grounding out somewhere.

you have pullies (aftermarket)?
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 10:57 AM
  #4  
2001NBMZ28's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
Default

Sounds like the alternator to me. Most parts stores will test it for free.
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 02:17 PM
  #5  
LawHorn's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
20 Year Member
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: La Porte, Tx
Default

Originally Posted by imnotplutonium
anything you did recently with electronics? it could be the alt going out. or it could be a wire grounding out somewhere.

you have pullies (aftermarket)?

What problems could the pullie cause if you're having these same problems?
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 03:20 PM
  #6  
Vicinity's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
From: FL
Default

Only thing I did was put in new speakers, but I had this problem before that. I'll goto autozone and get my alternator tested.
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 03:57 PM
  #7  
imnotplutonium's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Houston,TX
Default

yea hopefully that will let you know what is going on. elec. problems are the worst. usually hard to track down.

Originally Posted by LawHorn
What problems could the pullie cause if you're having these same problems?
depending on if you have the alt. overdrive pulley or not it could cause your alt. to not push enough power out and slowly drain your battery. even with the overdrive pulley on mine I still have charging problems from time to time and only after having the car on for a while and driving it around with the rpm's going up will my electronics act normal.

this along with my system cause interior and headlights to often dim and seems like surging from time to time. It is related of course to rpm and the power drawn by the amp.
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2008 | 08:52 PM
  #8  
Vicinity's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
From: FL
Default

The autozone dude told me my alt is over charging my battery. So I guess the regulator is broken and I need a new one. I guess I'll get a HO one from the ebay.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 17, 2008 | 09:30 PM
  #9  
92RSLS1's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: sacramento
Default

hey I have the same problems with my ls1, but I have a brand new alternator and strater, I have a stock pully and I checked my grounds. But still it will jump from 8 or 9 to 15 or 16.. anyone have any other suggestions
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2008 | 10:17 PM
  #10  
qwikz28's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 2
From: Franklin Lakes, NJ
Default

my car does something similar. HO output alternator and optima red top. voltage drops and lights flicker at idle. once you give it gas, it charges up to 14v and goes away. i think its my alternator
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2008 | 03:26 AM
  #11  
ae13291's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,093
Likes: 1
From: san fernando valley, california
Default

sucks to have the power steering pump right above the alternator
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:29 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE