Dash Lights still dimming at Idle......more

Did someone own the car before you and perhaps put an underdrive pulley on it?(smaller than stock crank pulley) That would reduce alt. output somewhat.

That's all I got. Other than refreshing all the ground connections as suggested earlier.

Carl

Might want to check the battery for a bad cell. Check all battery grounds.

I agree with the mechanic. Some dimming at idle with the increase of load on the engine and brake lights with the brake pedal, that does slow the alternator a bit. I only notice this when my fan is running on 3 or 4 though.

Dunno if that helps.

Not a question of alternator. Its a question of post-voltage regulator amps to power 4 lights or 9 lights.

Think about it as a flashlight battery (the cicuit the lights and switches that turn the lights on and off). There is X amout of amps doing Y amount of light power. If you take X amount and divide it by Y + Z light power, what happens if it's evenly distributed?

Less power to the bulb and a dimmer light. On the headlights, it's noticable.

If the regulator is not letting more power through, it could be a design flaw, or a design to keep the lights from using too much juice when you need it elsewhere.

Yeah, it's a little worrying the first time you notice. But it is not unusual for a Scoob.

Uh....Carl.....smaller makes it spin FASTER..........it would put out MORE..not less.......

Uh,,,,,Eric....I said CRANK (not alt.)pulley - decreased circumference at the SAME engine RPM = less distance traveled.

I think???

whatever - there are folks who swap out crank (and, indeed, access.) pulleys for lighter - and sometimes smaller CRANK, pulleys. Redused rotating mass and quicker 'spin-up' of the engine. Like a lighter flywheel sorta.

lol!

Carl

OK..i see what you mean :)

Good thing they dont know an alternator eats between 3 and 5 hp....they might get rid of that too for more power...

Trust me, they do.

So this is something that I should not worry about?

Thanks for all the help.

Matt

Well. Depends on if you worry about what is normal or not.

It's normal forget it.

(Also note from my previous post, there is a solinoid that opens the switch to move the shifter that enages too, so you may notice the dimming while in park (when the switch has to go) and not in drive because the electrical draw on the circuit is different.)

You got it.

-- Todd H.