Flickering voltage, flickers interior lights and headlights
 

MikeP and I are trying to figure out what might be wrong with this.

It all started happening after we went on a weekend trip that took us through some heavy rain, snow, and a lot of twistes for long periods of time. I am not sure if something got wet, or perhaps jolted loose.

First off, if the car is in ACC mode everything is fine. Its when I start the car problems arise. The volts initially spike to 15 from 14, when the car warms up they stay between 14 and 13.7. This is causing what I listed above and the display commander to flicker.

The tail and brake lights do not seem to be affected. The display on the boost gauge is not affected.

I drive it around..its like a champ. Took it to the drags, I suck but the car did fine. It does not seem to be affecting anything else.

Mike is convinced it has to do with the charging system. So far we've checked alot of it visually, aside from all the stuff under the steering wheel. The front of the joint box and its fuses seem to be fine.

Have you ever heard of something in the starter cut relay or the ignition switch causing this? These seem to be only other 2 visually we haven't checked.

What about this TNS relay would a bad one cause this? Also what does that stand for?

Have you tested the alternator yet?

hey, not for this problem.

Got an upgraded rebuild from Rot Exp 7, and I did have it tested after I got it back in Dec to be doubly sure it was cool. You think it could have gone out in that time?

your voltage shouldn't go into the 15's i once had a fc where the headlights and interior lights would sort of pulse. my alternator put out too many volts so i had to get a new one.

The alternator has a regulator inside which should "regulate" the output voltage. Since you say you are getting spikes of 15 or so, it sounds like the alternator regulator isn't functioning properly any longer. Have it tested.

^+1

ok, I'll take the alt back in. Perhaps it something got wet that should not have :(

Thanks

bumpage

My car started doing this, did you find out what was the cause? Thanks


My Twin Power died recently too, could it be related?

Yes, sorry I never got back but it took awhile to figure out what was exactly wrong as I would have it fixed and then it would break again. Basically it was the alternator, something in there kept breaking. My opinion that piece that controls the voltage surge.

Specifically for me, it was that upgraded alternator being sold on the boards. I had a local shop rebuild it twice asking them to please keep the upgraded parts. After the second time it popped on me, I asked the alternator shop to build it back to stock. Its been over a year since that build and my car has been fine.

- a tip from me- Take it to a place the specializes in just rebuilding alternators. The type of place mechanics in the area would ship an alt to get rebuilt. It cost me $50 each time.

I too get my alternators rebuilt by a local alternator/starter shop, for Rx-7's and other cars.

the shop by me also did starters for the same price. If yours is old might see if you can get a similar deal.

interesting, I'm using a 140amp alternator sold by a vendor on the board. I contacted them for support.

If its from Tony in Texas that's the same one. He was nice and very apologetic but the changes he did didn't seem to work. I sent the alternator back to him to re-rebuild it. He said nothing was wrong with it but he rebuilt it anyway. I know he took it apart because he accidentally sent it to me assembled backwards. He also suggested I go with a new electrical harness, I needed one anyway so I bought it, put it in. I got it back. After replacing the harness AND his fixes... 3-4 drives it was back to not working.

That's when I took it to a local shop had it rebuilt keeping the 140amp parts...but again after 4-5 drives it was broken again.

SO then I went back to stock, all is fine. I did keep in touch with Tony through this whole mess, but like I said he is states away so not much that could be done.

Save yourself some time in trouble shooting, put a stock one back in, drive it for a few weeks, and see if that fixes your issue.

For the record i hate electrical gremlins!

Check the harness in the drivers side front wheel well.

A stock OEM alternator fixed my issues!

I had terrible flickering, warning lights in the cluster, 16V voltage peaks and the engine wasn't even running right.

I put in a new fresh modded 140A Alt and it cured most of the problems but there was still a very very slight interior light flickering but only visible when I turned on the headlights and stereo. I decided to try a used stock alt and everything went back to normal again! I hope the used alt lasts!

womp

Wow I am glad I came across this thread. I was just about to buy one of these upgraded alternators.. Umm I wonder if anyone else is experiencing this issue..

I am not sure how many people this happens to. It could be something else in the system causing this. You are closer to Iyor though so if you do buy it and this same thing happens maybe he can help you figure out what the issue is. I would not mind knowing. ;)