I have a 86 V6 2.8 bird and my battery is fine and my alternator is fine but it seems as if im getting little power cause my headlights flicker and interior lights flicker and car died when at a stop light. Any clue?

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86 firebird 2.8
K&N replacement filter
modified air box
MSD ignitor
Hooker cat back
GNX style wheels

 

My car did the same thing. I replaced the alternator and it stopped. The voltage regulator was prolly shot. Check for loose grounds first though.

EDIT: Wait, your getting 8 volts???? All the time???
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-Dan
-1990 3.1L RS
-Mods? no
-Slow? yes
-*Slowly* collecting parts for T5 swap


[This message has been edited by CaliCamaroRS (edited November 07, 2001).]

 

Are you sure that your alts good? What are you idling at? what current draw IE Sterio, fog lights ect do you have?. Theres alot of questions here.

First I would have the alt bench tested. I bet you find its bad. Second if you have or plan on getting aftermarket stuff that suck up juice get a higher output alt. I am running a 160 on stock wires and doing just fine. I paid 189 for mine. If your getting that low an output cruising, something is deffinately wrong. Your regualtor could be on its way out and only works when it wants too, so yes sometimes it gets the charge, others well you know you go dark.
If its sitting at idle(Stop light) and you hit the gas do they light back up?, if not your alts gone. Period. be thankful its more then likely an easy problem.

 

With the car off, put a voltmeter on the battery- it should read close to 12 volts.

Start the engine, and put the voltmeter back on the battery- you should get close to 13.8 volts. If not, time for a new alternator! Check your battery connections for cleanliness first.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

battery terminals are good and clean, and when i step on the gass the lights stop flickering at the voltage guage reads half way past 8. but i think the alternator is good cause i tested it the old fashion way by pulling off one of the battery cables and the alternator kept on running. so still confused?

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86 firebird 2.8
K&N replacement filter
modified air box
MSD ignitor
Hooker cat back
GNX style wheels

 

You probably have already checked this...but is the alt. belt tight enough?

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Dale Earnhardt was a scholar of the race track that drove with the spirit of a warrior.

My Camaro: http://home.earthlink.net/~singleton052095

 

Check the Plug in to your Alternator, start it, it the volt meter is readeing 8, wiggle the wires in it, you should hear a slight decrease in revs of the engine when the alt kicks in, that is if there is a lose wire.

I had this problem 6 months ago,

If that isn't it, take the alternator off, its like a 10 minute job, take it, and get it tested Its free up here, in most spots, how canyou go wrong, if its not dead either, then the battery must be the source...

 

HMMM sorry to tell you but by doing that you just fried the alt. Old style yeah you could get away with it, todays comp controlled cars forget it.

 

DOH!

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86 firebird 2.8
K&N replacement filter
modified air box
MSD ignitor
Hooker cat back
GNX style wheels

 

If I still lived in Woodbridge I coulda helped ya from doing that, but alas I am about 1000 miles away from that place now. I used to live right beside morumso plaza.