Electrical Geniuses
 

My electrical system is slowly dying. Symptoms are:

1. Hard starting- Partly winter, partly electrical.
2. Headlights dim- When the car is cold, every time I shift, the headlights dim. Also when I hit the brakes sometimes, whether the car is cold or warmed up.
3. Tach jumps- The tach will randomly jump 1000 rpms or so, and the lights seem to get brighter momentarily while it happens (electrical surge).
4. Here's the kicker- Radio acting up. Speakers will randomly shut off, radio will randomly turn off, then right back on and every once in a while with the car off, key turned backwards, the radio will shut off when I open the door and come right back on when I close the door.

I'm going to try to track it down this weekend. Please help me before the car dies! It's getting harder to start every day.

Hard to say what it is without diagnosing it.Its either the ignition switch,battery or alternator.I would have the battery and alt, tested.If it isnt one of those,look at the switch.

Battery is an almost new optima redtop. I do wonder about the alternator though. Last time I had it tested, the charge was reading higher than normal. Could that be because I have the March Power and Amp overdrive pulley on it or is my voltage regulator going to hell?

110% sure its the ignition switch... :)

110% sure that I hope you're right!!!

LOL :D

Almost didn't even start when I left work today. Any more suggestions? Also, where's a good place to get an ignition switch, and how long does it take to change it without taking out the column?

If your headlights are dim, power to them does not go through the ignition switch, so I don't see how that could be your problem. You have a low voltage situation caused by low state of charge in the battery or a poor connection. Check and clean connections at the battery and on the RH shock tower.

They only dim when I shift (cold) or hit the brakes(randomly). I will check the connections on the tower though because the engine bay has gotten pretty dirty lately.

Also, the Optima will not fit all the way into the battery tray and is only secured in the back. Do you think under hard acceleration it could be tilting back and arcing on something?