What is wrong here? *Dimming headlights*

[AllstarE4 10+ year member]

I'm brand new here, but even I know better than to use that C word.

 

[Racerx250 10+ year member]

well. typically you can type it out. Just don't recommend the usage of it. or whoever's thread it was just got taken over by an agruement. Eventually some1 will post refer to thread blah blah blah.

 

[85Caprice4d 10+ year member]

haha at responses to caps.

caps can help- if you wanna be lazy and do stuff half assed.

your alt might be goin bad - its happening to my caprice, cant even drive the b!tch - lights blink, heat turns on and off, radio goes off, wipers randomly stop - shit gets bad fast - get it checked - if not that - do the big 3, and if that doesn help, throw a bat it your trunk. 1200 shouldnt need an extra bat tho?

Id have your alt looked at by a pro or a trusted friend who will know what they are looking at - if your alt is fine, big 3 is where its at.

 

[cjacks519]

You my friend have just said a bad word on here. People on here don't like to use caps as they are a band-aid on a bigger problem.

Ahhh...got ya. Sorry about that folks //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[rich52490 10+ year member]

Idling at 15v? Are you using a DMM, and where are you measuring voltage during the bass note?

Yes sir, using a dmm at the amps and am reading 15V idle. Should I go under the hood and begin checking voltage at battery and alternator? Possibly a bad ground? I am just grounding to the frame as of now.

 

[rich52490 10+ year member]

First-gen explorers are known for terrible electrical systems..... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

 

[rich52490 10+ year member]

Took some measurements under the hood today.......I found that with the car off my battery is sitting at 16.4V //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif and when the car is running it is at 19.4V????????? That has got to be killing my electronics, although nothing seems unusual. No CEL or any bulbs burnt out. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif What is going on here?? Is my car going to blow up??? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif I'm going to go and get the alternator checked tomorrow.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

sounds like a voltage regulator

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Battery is toast. Alt probably caused it. You dimming is caused by ANY voltage drop. With your voltages that high, I'd imagine that your lights are probably much brighter than normal which would make any dimming really obvious.

 

[rich52490 10+ year member]

UPDATE: Regulator was bad, battery may or may not be damaged. I'm going to look into a deep cycle battery though just to be on the safe side.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

i would get something like a kinetik 2000 that is agm and as big as what can fit.

 

[rich52490 10+ year member]

i would get something like a kinetik 2000 that is agm and as big as what can fit.

Know of any places that have good deals on Kinetiks?

 

[mile098 10+ year member]

Took some measurements under the hood today.......I found that with the car off my battery is sitting at 16.4V //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif and when the car is running it is at 19.4V????????? That has got to be killing my electronics, although nothing seems unusual. No CEL or any bulbs burnt out. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif What is going on here?? Is my car going to blow up??? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif I'm going to go and get the alternator checked tomorrow.

how are your amps still operational at that high of a voltage?

 

[rich52490 10+ year member]

how are your amps still operational at that high of a voltage?

I honestly don't know....the readings at the amps were 15V so I don't know how or what was saving them. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Most amps can handle 16ish volts, its the rest of the car that I'm surprised survived. Specifically the ECU and the dash lights.