5 Dash lights at once

Ahner · #1 08-09-2005, 08:53 PM

I was driving down the highway today at about 70 with the air conditioning on. The A/C got weak for a few seconds and then came back to full blast, but with it came the Steering light (power steering was fine), Check lamp (brake lights work), battery (brand new 7 year battery - few months old, still has plenty of juice), brake (hand brake was down), and ABS (didn't bother testing this). It still drove just fine, and the lights went off when i was going fairly slow and under 2000 RPMs. They all come back on as soon as you give it some gas though.

It's going to the dealer tomorrow anyway since it needs some other things checked out, but I need it to get to school in the morning - anyone experience any of this sort? I was thinking a blown fuse or something, but it's too odd that they'll go off when it slows down.

Ahner · #2 08-09-2005, 09:05 PM

Ack nevermind, should have searched first.

Alternator ):

AvPPoW · #3 08-09-2005, 09:57 PM

voltage regulator in the alternator. Don't drive it too far, it'll charge your battery but it can short out the other components at higher rpm. You can probably get it rebuilt fairly cheap. I got mine done for a little under $100

NikFu S. · #4 08-09-2005, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ahner

Ack nevermind, should have searched first.
Alternator ):

Sucks. Upgrade if you can to a higher output.
Er, if you want. Don't have to though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AvPPoW

You can probably get it rebuilt fairly cheap. I got mine done for a little under $100

Where?
I knew a small engine guy that rebuilt his own alts. I wonder if Honda or Briggs shops would take up the offer. (:

thundering02 · #5 08-10-2005, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AvPPoW

voltage regulator in the alternator. Don't drive it too far, it'll charge your battery but it can short out the other components at higher rpm. You can probably get it rebuilt fairly cheap. I got mine done for a little under $100

I got Dayle (motorsportwarehouse.com) to do one for me for $150 but that was everything no just the regulator

AvPPoW · #6 08-11-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikFu S.

Where?
I knew a small engine guy that rebuilt his own alts. I wonder if Honda or Briggs shops would take up the offer. (:

Ampco, local shop. You can rebuild yourself too, just do a search.

Beav · #7 08-11-2005, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AvPPoW

voltage regulator in the alternator. Don't drive it too far, it'll charge your battery but it can short out the other components at higher rpm. You can probably get it rebuilt fairly cheap. I got mine done for a little under $100

Not exactly right. It's the rectifier that causes the dash lights to go crazy - poor engineering of the circuit. However chances are the regulator will be frazzled too, so the for the extra $25 or so it would be short-sighted to not replace it also.

Earthworm · #8 08-16-2005, 05:44 PM

Most likely it's the alternator but another possibility is the belt is slipping or the crank pulley has separated. Don't forget to check these things too. I had the tensioner pulley seize up and it destroyed the belt.

#9 08-20-2005, 01:08 AM

This sounds kind of similar, does ur car die?? Or want to die?

Conn SVX · #10 08-20-2005, 01:55 PM

My belt was slipping and it was doing that. What is the steering light all about ? I had that come on , I never saw it before , never knew it was there.

Earthworm · #11 08-22-2005, 01:54 PM

Yes, even the power steering has it's own set of trouble codes. Hence the light.

SVX_girl · #12 08-26-2005, 06:31 AM

Yeah, I am having the same problem, minus the steering light. My ABS light just started coming on in the last day, but the other lights come on every now and then, but then go away after a couple of minutes. I was thinking about doing the alternator modification to my car this weekend, or should I just by an alternator. I am not sure what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I printed out the alternator modification last night and I am pretty sure that I can do it myself, but I just want to know if I should buy a new alternator. Thanks

Beav · #13 08-26-2005, 08:03 AM

The 'alternator mod' (always hated that title, it really isn't) won't cure the dash light phenom.

SVX_girl · #14 08-26-2005, 08:04 AM

So, should I buy a new alternator? Sorry for using the 'alternator mod' phrase.

FUDDMAN · #15 09-20-2005, 07:08 PM

Had intermittant warning lites on my 96 lsi for several months. Car ran fine. Had auto-electric shop check the charging system. He said it wasn't charging very good. He disconnected the forward connector on the alternator to check the diodes. They were good. After he reconnected the connector, I haven't had any more problems.