alright so my car doesn't quite idle right. when i have my headlights on, i also have my glow gauges, mirrors, and floor lights on, but this idle causes my lights, including my headlights, to kinda "pulsate". i thought maybe it was my system but when i removed the fuse it didn't make any difference at all so wandering if anyone else has this problem and if they were able to fix it.... thanks
Have u got current flow test doen on youre alternaotor? How about youre the volts with youre battery. Also has this done this in the past orno?.
its done it for maybe the last 3-4 months....
sounds like the alternator.
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boobs now with Riboflabin"
Does it happen while you're driving or just when its sitting and if it's just when your sitting how low does your rpms drop to???
it does it both when its sitting and when im driving. when i'm just sittin there it idle's kinda normal but if you look closely and listen closely you can see the needle move up jus a lil bit but it stays around 500 rpm's...i wanna say its the spark plugs....just because as far as i can remember back i was low on cash and got cheap plugs and since then is when i think its been happeneing....
It coul be just faulty ground, just try with a jumper cable from Bat negative to a good clean ground on the chasiss or engine if the problem disapears add a permanent ground.
I'm currently having this exact problem in my 2000 Sunfire, 2200 engine. The plugs were replaced 6 months ago and it ran fine for quite a while, so I don't think it's the plugs. My gut says it's the alternator, but I thought I'd poke around here for a known cause & solution. The car is now idling rough, with a bit of a shake, just at or above 500 rpm. The rpms spike up now and then at idle by about 100 rpm. The pulsing lights (headlights and dash) only seem to happen when idling. I don't notice them while driving, even when really LOOKING for it. Cutting the power to my stereo and amp has no effect at all. Also, my CEL is coming on frequently, and occasionally my TRAC light is coming on. That may or may not be a related issue. I don't know.
Any insight would be much appreciated. I'm going to have the alternator & battery checked and find out what code(s) are being thrown when the CEL light comes on. If I get it solved I'll be sure to post back. These boards have been a HUGE help in the past, time to give a little info back if I can
- Steve
Remember, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing...
just a question: if the alternator isn't charging at 12v, shouldn't the battery charge warning light come on?
Well, I had my alternator and battery checked out. The alternator is good. Holds at 14.05 volts at 1000-1500 rpm; however, the battery is trashed. Seems a little weird to me, but I'm no pro, just a guy learning. It's a Delco battery that's still under warranty (great news!) so I have to wait until tomorrow when the Delco shops are open here in town before I can swap it out. They are all closed on Sundays here. I'm betting that will fix the pulsing lights issue, but I'll post post back w/ confirmed results.
515Cavy - Have your alternator & battery checked out. AutoZone, Advance Auto, Pep Boys, etc. all do it for free. Just guessing here, but since I have absolutely identical symptoms I'd bet that your battery is toast as well.
- Steve
Remember, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing...
Yep, that solved the problem. Slapped in a new battery today. The lights are steady and bright (no more pulsing), the idle is no longer rough (holding very smooth at just over 500 rpm) and the CEL seems to be staying off. Check your battery. Worked for me!
- Steve
Remember, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing...
so thew new battery in and nothing changed. still have the awkward idle and pulsating lights
