Lights dim when i hit the brakes.

[BlackDynamite]

Well since i have had the car, when i hit the brakes, the lights dim, and the volt meter drops a little, then rises up again.

I have the ABS system.

Went and cleaned ALL the grounds(and terminals) with a wire brush and sand paper.

 

[BlackMKIII]

It's kind of normal, my car has always done it. I would test the alternator just in case.

 

[BlackDynamite]

i figured so, just thought it wouldn't dim as much as it does.

 

[BlackMKIII]

It really depends on what you have on at the time. If you've got the ventilation on high, both wipers going, stereo on, headlights on, etc. you will see more of a drop. The headlights are the worst drain.

 

[CyFi6]

seems to happen on my car, pretty sure its normal to an extent, as long as it comes back up right away i think youre fine

 

[BorHor]

I lol when the blinker is on and I see the meter twitch up and down.

 

[BlackDynamite]

ha, not good BorHor.....;p

but when i turn just my running lights on, when i hit the brakes, they dim also...lol...I don't run my flood lights as much as i want to, because it makes the meter drop more, and lights dim more when i hit the brakes...

 

[BorHor]

Whats not good? When I say twitch I mean like almost no movement but enough I can notice.

 

[BlackDynamite]

::hang::Never mind...lol....But i think mine does that too.......Could a battery that could hold more of a load work to try to stop the dimming?

I have a temporary small battery that works pretty good but i think it's a smaller one then the one that came in my car.

 

[BorHor]

Wait we are talking about dimming lights.. how bad is the dim.. if it is bad it might be the alt. or the battery.

 

[BlackDynamite]

i mean i notice a bit of change and sometimes people think i'm flashing them when i push the brakes a few times while braking...lol

 

[BorHor]

Hmm I never notice that. I think you have a problem somewhere..

 

[johnathan1]

Get out the multimeter and test battery and alternator...

 

[BlackDynamite]

Now that i can do! Got a million Multi's sitting around the house. Dads an electrician for crying out loud, i better...:]

Now i know the alt, every once in a while, is sounds like a bearing went out, only for a little while. then stops. On cold days mostly.

 

[americanjebus]

Mine dims too, i have sat at red lights playing with the brake pedal listening to some relay click behind the stereo and all the instrument cluster lights make a quick flicker, it really pisses some people off when i sit there and do that.

 

[suprabad]

I think you've got a parasitic short somewhere.

Here's what you do:

Disconnect your negative battery lead and then take a test light and connect the ground to your -negative battery post, and the +positive side to your now disconnected -negative battery cable.
If the test light lights up, you've got a short somewhere.

Start pulling fuses till the light goes out and you've found your shorted circuit. Now it's just a matter of tracing the wire or useing a magnetic short finder to locate the exact location of the short.

Also, check grounds.

 

[BlackDynamite]

My dash lights dim Also, But i don't hear a clicking noise.

The only thing i hear is when i start up and start to drive i hear a motor kick in for the abs without hitting the abs, I think it was a test cycle if i remember correctly.

 

[iwannadie]

I think you've got a parasitic short somewhere.

Here's what you do:

Disconnect your negative battery lead and then take a test light and connect the ground to your -negative battery post, and the +positive side to your now disconnected -negative battery cable.
If the test light lights up, you've got a short somewhere.

Start pulling fuses till the light goes out and you've found your shorted circuit. Now it's just a matter of tracing the wire or useing a magnetic short finder to locate the exact location of the short.

Also, check grounds.

Dont mean to thread jack...

I have a drain somewhere and used the test light as you said and pulled fuses. I pulled every fuse and it made no change, not sure where the drain is if its not on any of the fused circuits...?

 

[Figit090]

did you even pull the fuses inside the car in the kick panel? just thought with all those fuses so close to the battery you might have forgotten the rest...


I have this slight dimming when i change the voltage needed from the electronics, but yes it's usually coming home at night when i apply my brakes. I notice it more when my wipers are on but i usually always run with fogs on when my headlights are on. so that means what, 9 bulbs are going? the voltage doesn't come back up too quick but it's not horrible or that much of a dip. i notice the voltmeter twitch when i use my hazards. not sure about the blinker.

 

[kntmikado]

Isn't the MkIII alternator also somewhat underpowered to start with?