Electrical Woes

[Naru]

i have the same problem.
- removed and send alternator to an electrical shop -> no problem
- removed / dismounted / checked power steering pump -> no problem
i really start to think about the tight of the belt.
even if she's new, i think she need a high tight!

[joshuachrist]

I too am having this problem. I was on my way to work when i noticed my lights going dim, when i went to turn around everything came on the dash and the car stalled out. Then i walked back home to get the other car(and the wife) to give the svx a jump. But when we got back to the svx i noticed that the dome light was bright again and it started right up. Turned it around and made it a few hundred feet before it stalled out again. Luckily i was able to coast it into the driveway. Now this morning i jumped it and it ran for about 2 mins,(long enough for me to pull the cables and put them back in the trunk). I also had the battery tested and they said it was fine. BUT I have been having power steering leaks for a few days now and have had to keep adding fluid. Could this be a problem? Im going to check my grounds and take the advice already mentioned...but anything else would be a great help. As always thanks

[Naru]

i have think about the problem.
maybe a P/S pump failure can make problem.
if the pump lock some times, the belt slide and dont run normaly.
so the alternator dont have a good speed and maybe the engine eat the battery.
i'll try to make measurement of the alternator when my car going on road again...

[SVXalter]

Update for my situation:

After having the battery charged I decided to put a different alternator in just to see if that was the source of the problem. It should also be noted that I am now running a brand new belt also, and the old one was not in great shape, but should still have been working fine. For the past 6 days the car has been running fine without any issues. Starts up every time, even in the subzero temperatures we've had already. The snow tires are on and I am remembering again how awesome this car is in the snow. Now I just hope it keeps running!

[Tuck]

I just recently replaced the alternator which gave me the "disco dash of death" so dimly that I could only barely see it in the dark. This caught me on a rainy afternoon and I only saw it after it became dark. You would have to look closely to see it.

[Naru]

so alternator replacement correct the problem?

[SVXalter]

So far for me charging the battery and replacing the alternator has left me problem free. It has only been about a week, and I have probably driven every other day, so I am hoping the symptoms don't pop up again.

[North Ursalia]

A bad alternator will wipe out a perfectly good battery in very short order. I have had alternators bench test fine but not charge the battery (my 1996 OBS most specificially). The alternator in that tested fine time and time again, but batteries would only last 6 months at best. Replacing the alternator even though it was still bench testing fine (and the battery at the same time) cured the problem for good. The symptom of your heater blowing faster when on the gas tells me the voltage regulator in your alternator was bad. If your alternator goes bad, replace the battery at the same time and you should be trouble-free.