Alternator again ?

MotionMotion New Wagonist
in Electronics, Fueling & Air Conditioning
Replaced my alternator about 3 months ago, due to my lights dimming, flickering, radio turning off, and whippers slowing.. Alternator tested good, but i checked the grounds, cleaned them and all looked fine. Thew new alternator seemed to solve the problem for the most part, accept for the lights still would occasionally flicker after the new alternator. Yesterday i was out driving on a hard bumpy frozen road and the car was bouncing around a bit and when i was done the lights are back to dimming, radio cutting out. I checked the ground on top of the engine, as well as the one on the thermostat housing.. The one on the trans i just cleaned not long ago while putting a new clutch in. Do ground wires themselves ever go bad? Think i bounced something loose ? or bounced the alternator to death >>?

Comments

  • The_HeadThe_Head familEE
    I'm not sure what you're problem is (sounds like a loose connection) but it certainly won't hurt anything to replace ground cables. I have a car stereo installer friend and plan on having him replace some on mine soon.
  • ogwagonogwagon Wagonist
    Have you tested the battery? A battery can be damaged internally and cause these symptoms
    especially if not properly secured. Bunjee straps don't count as properly secured. If thats ok, replace the ground cable from the transmission to the chassis to the battery negative terminal with a NEW one.
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    Make sure your belt is snug too. You can always go to a parts store and have them check your alternators amps.
  • MotionMotion New Wagonist
    Thank you all for your quick responses.. Going to look at it again in about an hour! The scarry thing about this car is if i fix one thing.. another will break.. lol Aventually ill get all the bugs worked out.. Today i was driving and the elecronics were working fine.. but i had one rear tire in the snow and another one out.. and started getting some vibration.. hoping it was just snow in the wheel well, or a wheel bearing.. otherwise it could of been from the rear end.. its intermitant as well whatt ever that is lol.. Ill let you all know what i figure out on the grounds today! Thanks again for all of your help!
  • MotionMotion New Wagonist
    Well today when i took it too my friends shop to work on it, it stopped having the problem on the way for the most part.. Nothing was flashing anyways, however the RPMs at idle were a bit low and erratic.. So what i did was replace the ground from the valve cover to the chasis with a new 8 gauge wire with a little offshot wire to create the double connection by the valve cover.. as well as added a new ground from the negative battery terminal to the chasis and after that everything seems to be running better then it ever has.. idle isnt dropping too low.. nothing flickers and the car just feels like it runs a bit better. So hopefully this has solved the problem for good.. I still dont know why it stopped doing it on the way to being fixed though.. maybe it just doesent want me working on it. Both battery and alternator tested good as well.
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