I started up my car late last night after work, and i noticed the same thing I always have. After my car was warm I turned on the interior light to get a CD and I saw that my interior light was diming as the car was running, I hit the gas and it get brighter. Why is this? How can I stop it? Will it hurt and thing? I talked to my buddie in college he said tha i may need a new Voltage Regulator, is this true?

Thanks,
Robert

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Chevy 2.8L 60° V6
Mods:
?K&N Filter Lid
?87 Formula Hood
?Bosch Platinum +4
?Hi-Flo CatCo CAT
?Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler
?83 Trans Am 15x7 Turbo Fin Wheels
?B.F.Goodrich Radial T/A 225/60-15
?Chevy 2.8L Heddman Headers (Going on soon)

Aol instant messenger: FIREAM

http://www.geocities.com/fiream/RobsCarArtPa.html?994187591828

 

When I come to a stop at night, all my lights, gauge, headlights etc. go dim. When I get back on the gas, they come back. Any relation to this??

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2.8 mpfi
My only mod: Flowmaster 40 series
check my home page for pics

 

yeah it the same problem i'm having, it maybe the Voltage Regulator, But i don't know it may not be, thats what i can't figure out.

------------------
Chevy 2.8L 60° V6
Mods:
?K&N Filter Lid
?87 Formula Hood
?Bosch Platinum +4
?Hi-Flo CatCo CAT
?Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler
?83 Trans Am 15x7 Turbo Fin Wheels
?B.F.Goodrich Radial T/A 225/60-15
?Chevy 2.8L Heddman Headers (Going on soon)

Aol instant messenger: FIREAM

http://www.geocities.com/fiream/RobsCarArtPa.html?994187591828

 

Late model alternators are internal regulator so a simple fix is out of the question. The cheapest way out (if something in the charging system is dead or dieing) is to rebuild the alternator. Just get a rebuild kit and do it yourself, they're easy. When you go to reassemble it you'll need to hold the brushes in place with a wire, I used a 2"piece of coat hanger. After you get the halves back together pull the wire out the back and voila! rebuilt alt.

 

I shouldn't need to rebuild my alternator, it's only like 2 years old!

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2.8 mpfi
My only mod: Flowmaster 40 series
check my home page for pics

 

Ha 2 years old, sounds like time for a new one, no its normal for the lights to dim a little at idle, the best thing to do is get a Duralast GOLD series remanufactered one with the LIFE TIME WARRENTY, that way any time you need one, just go get one for free.

Should be like $110 plus tax.

 

is that Autozone? That's where I got this alternator...

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2.8 mpfi
My only mod: Flowmaster 40 series
check my home page for pics

 

Rebuild kit is like $25 and you can do it in less than an hour.

 

well its probally your voltage regulator in it. ours do have an internal one. the thing about these altenators is that they operate at such a high voltage(105 i think), that the internal regualtor goes out very quickly. mine was a year old and went. if yours was an autozone duralast, it has a lifetime waranty. mines a delco(gm)and i havent had any problems with .

 

I would suggest (before spending any money) check and clean (which requires removal of the connection) the connections to the alternator, to the factory distribution block (this one is often neglected), to the battery, and to chassis ground. Doing so, for me, had a significant positive impact on my electrical/charging system.

 

Get a voltmeter. With the car off, measure the voltage at the battery- it should be near 12. Start the engine and measure the voltage again- it should be near (or exactly) on 13.8. & Yeah the voltage regulator's internal.

Check your drivebelts, too, guys... and the idea about cleaning the terminals & making sure they're tight is a great one.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

2 years on an alternator?! My last alternator only lasted two months! Gotta love those warranties! Just put in the new one yesterday. I wish my alternator lasted two years.

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1992 Polo Green RS 3.1L K&N conical and working on the ram air....

"Yeah, it's a V6 SO WHAT!?"

 

well I got a 160 amp alt for my car. Mr alternator, not home right now so do not have the number. found 'em on line. $189 I think? it was. direct replacement case with the high output internals. All new internals only the case is reused to insure proper fit. Lets just say my lights never dim, and are brighter, and my system(sterio) is ALOT happier!.

 

If I upgrade my alt how many amps should i use??

------------------
Chevy 2.8L 60° V6
Mods:
?K&N Filter Lid
?87 Formula Hood
?Bosch Platinum +4
?Hi-Flo CatCo CAT
?Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler
?83 Trans Am 15x7 Turbo Fin Wheels
?B.F.Goodrich Radial T/A 225/60-15
?Chevy 2.8L Heddman Headers (Going on soon)

Aol instant messenger: FIREAM

http://www.geocities.com/fiream/RobsCarArtPa.html?994187591828

 

Last time I put on an alternator my car caught fire....

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2.8 mpfi
My only mod: Flowmaster 40 series
check my home page for pics

 

LMAO, wait can you elaborate on your story?? I really wanna hear it.



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Stock 2.8 MPFI auto w/ Flowmaster 80 Series, More to come......
Pioneer DEH-11
Targa E-910 7-Band Equalizer w/ crossover
2x 10" Pioneer subs powered by 300 Watt Jensen amp
2- 6x9" Pioneer (rear)
More to come..... (hey, i dont got a job yet)

 

Can't you just take out your alternator right before the warranty ends and then turn it into Kragen??? Will they notice???? You end up getting a 3 yr warranty every time right?

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Stock 2.8 MPFI auto w/ Flowmaster 80 Series, More to come......
Pioneer DEH-11
Targa E-910 7-Band Equalizer w/ crossover
2x 10" Pioneer subs powered by 300 Watt Jensen amp
2- 6x9" Pioneer (rear)
More to come..... (hey, i dont got a job yet)

 

What year's your car, Fiream?

89V6FBIRD, yeah, you could just zap the regulator... but that might be an obvious smell when you bring it in

I have the Pep Boys lifetime warranty alternator; good thing, i've brought the thing back on an average of every 2.5 years. (That's 3 alternators so far!) Never had a problem cashing in on it yet... in fact, this one might go back to 'em. My lights are flickering like mad when I come to a stop- not dimming, flickering.

The mid-80's alternator (like my type, 85-86) had an overheating problem... they'd run too hot, burn up, melt the rear bearing, and die a loud death. Not one of my alternators has gone "quietly"- they all started screaming at me. The last one was throwing sparks out of the case!



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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

Tom,

I have an 83 firebird

------------------
Chevy 2.8L 60° V6
Mods:
?K&N Filter Lid
?87 Formula Hood
?Bosch Platinum +4
?Hi-Flo CatCo CAT
?Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler
?83 Trans Am 15x7 Turbo Fin Wheels
?B.F.Goodrich Radial T/A 225/60-15
?Chevy 2.8L Heddman Headers (Going on soon)

Aol instant messenger: FIREAM

http://www.geocities.com/fiream/RobsCarArtPa.html?994187591828

 

when upping the amps you don't have to worry about much, just depends on how high you go. With my 160 I did not have to do anything. The stock charging wires can take it. If you want to upp the amps I would start with 140-160. If you don't have anything really big in your electrical system(no amps for sterio, high power fog lights) then 140 will do fine. But I went ahead and did 160. When upping the amps, its like "having a bigger pool of power to draw from" not having the 160 amps all the time. Thats one of the big misconceptions on high out put alts.

 

Here it what I have on my car. I have a set of 65watt driving lights, Xenon H4 headlight conversion,and thats about it, what amp do you think i should go with?

------------------
Chevy 2.8L 60° V6
Mods:
?K&N Filter Lid
?87 Formula Hood
?Bosch Platinum +4
?Hi-Flo CatCo CAT
?Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler
?83 Trans Am 15x7 Turbo Fin Wheels
?B.F.Goodrich Radial T/A 225/60-15
?Chevy 2.8L Heddman Headers (Going on soon)

Aol instant messenger: FIREAM

http://www.geocities.com/fiream/RobsCarArtPa.html?994187591828

 

Well, I was at work, my dad was putting it on. I get a call at work, my dad says "your car caught on fire". Naturally, what do I think? I think that my car is nting more than a burned out shell. I get home, see that it looks ok, then dad popped the hood... When he connected the terminals back to the battery, he said he saw the wire that goes from the alternator, behind the radiator, and to the battery start to glow. Put it this way, those wires came off quicker than they came on... But it was too late. The insulation was melting and burning. A guy that lived down the road was coming by, and from what I hear, it was pretty smoky and he could see the flames. By the time he pulled into the driveway, dad got the hose and put out the burning stuff. It looked like the alternator arched to the exhaust manifold because there is a spot on it. I got a new battery (because the heat almost caused that one to explode), new positive wires, and a new alternator for free. Autozone took the blame



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2.8 mpfi
My only mod: Flowmaster 40 series
check my home page for pics

 

Fiream, your early 82-84 alternator's only around 60 amps!! Definately upgrade somehow... the 85-86 f-body alternators are much larger than yours, so they won't fit in the stock location, but you might get luck using an 87-up alternator. In fact I think the same alternators are found under the hoods of late-model (not the newest ones, of course) 2.8 MPFI Cavaliers, Berettas, Cutlass-Cieras, etc. So if you go junkyard hopping, I'm sure you can find an alternator to fit. You could always rebuild the junkyard alternator if you're worried about if it'll work or not.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

call mr alternator and see if they can help ya. I would go at least 140.

[This message has been edited by Camaro_hunter_d (edited October 04, 2001).]