1997 Buick Regal electrical problem

Could be. Could also be brushes worn down after 10 years and making intermittent contact.

Alternator is aftermarket. I do not know when it replaced OEM. I bought car used 18 months ago. MORE INFO: Original engine (literally) blew up on me last summer driving over the continental divide near East Glacier, Montana. Mechanic who swapped engines (replaced w/2001 3.8L from salvage yard) thinks main bearing let go and that destroyed engine from the inside out. He re-used alternator that was on vehicle at the time.

Jeff

Wow! Sound like when my trans went out going over the divide in Colorado. Ok, I would take the wires off and clean and inspect them. Make sure the battery cables are clean. Same for all the grounds that you can find. If that does not help, then my next step would be to take the alternator apart and clean and inspect. Make sure the brushes are free to move easily.

When I encounter a flickering battery light and the dashboard voltmeter indicates good voltage, in my experience the culprit has been a bad diode.

When I encounter a flickering battery light and the dashboard voltmeter indicates good voltage, in my experience the culprit has been a bad diode.

Excuse my naivete, but by "diode" do you mean the "light bulb" that comes on showing red? At any rate, I'm taking it into Buick dealer for oil change, etc., Friday and I'll have them take a look-see. Thanks for the tip, though.

Jeff