should my volts drop THAT much..?

[RazoE]

Hey guys I noticed when I put my turn signal on, my lights dim slightly each time the signal blinks. The voltmeter drops up and down about half a volt when the right blinker is on, and an entire volt when I have the left one on. If I put my emergency lights on, via the switch, the volts are steady, and don't drop at all. I also noticed when I brake, my lights dim just slightly and the volts drop about 1/4 volt. Same with my windows, if I lower or raise them together, they're really sluggish, and my volt meter drops about half a volt. Once they're fully closed or open, the lights brighten up again.

The alternator is brand new, so I doubt it's that, considering it did it before I had it replaced. I'm thinking maybe a bad ground (or going bad), or maybe a short somewhere..? Possibly both?

What do you guys think?

 

[CRE]

Heh, I can watch my voltmeter bounce when I've got my turn signals on. I know on my car it's not the battery, alternator, bulb contacts and I've checked most of my grounds previously. My headlights don't dim though and I don't have any major drop with my brake lights active. The two things I'd suspect are oxidized wiring or bad grounds.

Kind of funny you mention this now, I was just going over my long term plans to reduce the load on my electrical system... including fixing the issue with my signals.


EDIT: How are you measuring the voltage drop? Keep in mind that the stock voltmeter isn't terribly reliable.

 

[Burntz]

iv noticed that my voltmeter dips ever so slightly when i have my blinkers on, and the only time i notice my lights dim is when i hit the window switch.

get an optima

 

[thechori]

my car does the same, i've just left it alone though.... hmmmm

 

[CRE]

The drop from my turn signals just bugs me... are you saying yours does all of the same stuff as RazoE's?

 

[thechori]

i know for a fact that my blinkers, and windows show on the meter. not sure about the hazards though, i'll check that out tomorrow

 

[RazoE]

get an optima

Had a red-top, and it died the second I put it in, and no longer holds a charge...


so yeah, I'm staying away from that shit...

 

[CRE]

I just replaced my red top with a DieHard Platinum.

 

[RazoE]

oh, I forgot to mention..

the volts stay down once I depress the brakes, until I lightly touch the gas (even the slightest touch) and once I let go of the gas, they stay at wherever the voltmeter was before I tapped the brakes

luckily it's manual so sometimes I don't stay on the brake at a light...

so what do you guys think?

 

[PROJECT N00b]

the matrix does that too, when i close the windows the headlights dim, and when i step on the gas they get brighter.

 

[CRE]

the volts stay down once I depress the brakes, until I lightly touch the gas (even the slightest touch) and once I let go of the gas, they stay at wherever the voltmeter was before I tapped the brakes

That's interesting... Personally I wouldn't just go relying on the stock meter, it could just be sticking.

 

[bluedragon17]

actually it is the alternator. its not charging at its full cpacity at idle so the meter drops slightly and mine does the same thing when the blinkers are on and the windows are used. its perfectly normal its basically the alternator not charging as hgih as it possibly can

 

[SupaMan]

mine does that too like if i turn the headlights on it goes down a tiny bit and if i turn my fogs off with the headlights on itll be normal if i turn the fogs on itll go down a tiny bit.

i just replaced my battery like a month ago.

 

[johnathan1]

My NA always did this...never thought twice about it.

 

[SupaMan]

My NA always did this...never thought twice about it.

it must be the lack of turbo to help us spin that HUGEEEEEEE alternator :bigthumb:

 

[akito]

i know on my 87 na when ever i use the blinker, i notice the volt meter jumps up and down about 1/2 or 1 volt. I never really look into that tho

 

[Linkstar07]

My 86 na never flickered the voltmeter until I replaced the alt. prolly cuz its a cheap made in mexico one...

 

[Burntz]

Had a red-top, and it died the second I put it in, and no longer holds a charge...


so yeah, I'm staying away from that shit...

You serious? Iv never heard a story like that about a Red Top until now. Weird.

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

You serious? Iv never heard a story like that about a Red Top until now. Weird.

my red top did the same. POS battery....

 

[Burntz]

Maybe I'll quit recommending it then lol. Everyone I've ever known with a built car always had an Optima, and I never heard any bad stories about it.