volts drop under initial load, lights flicker when brakes used
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 792
From: south delta, bc, canada
volts drop under initial load, lights flicker when brakes used
just a quick question
i just got my car back from the body shop, (had someone hit my front end - not that bad, all body work) - but now i have a couple of problems, when i start the car from a stop, and if i let the rpms drop a little low (not stupidly low), the volt meter will drop really low, the lights will dim, but then it will go back up...
under normal driing all is well, the charging system works fine, etc... except for when i use the brakes, the headlights flicker, and the dash lights do the same (the volt meter drops a very little bit)
what would u say the problem is? bad grounds, need new alternator, need new battery??
the alternator was replaced last year, and i have no stereo in my car right now...
oh yeah, also on this past sunday, early in the morning, for my 2 minute drive to work, my abs inop light came on, and my emergency brake light stayed on (the e-brake was down).... yet later that day, after work, all was fine again in that regards
thanks for any help
i just got my car back from the body shop, (had someone hit my front end - not that bad, all body work) - but now i have a couple of problems, when i start the car from a stop, and if i let the rpms drop a little low (not stupidly low), the volt meter will drop really low, the lights will dim, but then it will go back up...
under normal driing all is well, the charging system works fine, etc... except for when i use the brakes, the headlights flicker, and the dash lights do the same (the volt meter drops a very little bit)
what would u say the problem is? bad grounds, need new alternator, need new battery??
the alternator was replaced last year, and i have no stereo in my car right now...
oh yeah, also on this past sunday, early in the morning, for my 2 minute drive to work, my abs inop light came on, and my emergency brake light stayed on (the e-brake was down).... yet later that day, after work, all was fine again in that regards
thanks for any help
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,000
From: Richmond B.C.
Re: volts drop under initial load, lights flicker when brakes used
when you find out let me know, my 95 v6 has been doing that ever since i owned it. it gets annoying but i got used to it, i hear its pretty common on these cars on the v6 boards. who knows, could be a ground issue?? i dont know 
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 806
From: White Rock,BC,Canada
Re: volts drop under initial load, lights flicker when brakes used
Well for the voltage part I think you are just getting a little too paranoid.
Everytime you use an electrical part, you get a voltage drop. Turn on your rear defrost and see what happens or watch when the fans turn on. Those both draw a lot of power and will drop the gauge a bit. It is possible that your alternator is not charging as well or that your battery is getting weak. Alternators dont charge very well at idle to begin with, they need about 2000 engine rpm to get spinning fast enough to make a good charge. Get the vehicles charging sytem tested just in case.
Having said that, it is possible that some wires got damaged in the crash and is causing poor grounds or shorts. That can be a major bitch to find the cause.
The ABS light should set a code, if not you will have to wait until it does it again then get is scanned while the light is on.
Everytime you use an electrical part, you get a voltage drop. Turn on your rear defrost and see what happens or watch when the fans turn on. Those both draw a lot of power and will drop the gauge a bit. It is possible that your alternator is not charging as well or that your battery is getting weak. Alternators dont charge very well at idle to begin with, they need about 2000 engine rpm to get spinning fast enough to make a good charge. Get the vehicles charging sytem tested just in case.
Having said that, it is possible that some wires got damaged in the crash and is causing poor grounds or shorts. That can be a major bitch to find the cause.
The ABS light should set a code, if not you will have to wait until it does it again then get is scanned while the light is on.
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