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Blinking interior lights AND headlights

8 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 5:06 PM

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#5 of 8 Blinking, flicker interior dashboard lights and headlights by bill_colwell Jul 21, 2009 (7:20 pm)
My 2001 Tracker had the same issue. I passed along the recommendation to my mechanic to use an analog voltage meter and look for a "pulse" when the blinking begins. My mechanic was able to catch the steady light go into blinking mode and see the meter's needle start to pulse. It was the regulator that was bad and warranted a alternator/regulator replacement. This so far has resolved the problem in my Tracker.    This problem is a tough one to resolve. Initially the alternator tested fine (as others had reported in this forum and other Tracker forums). The bad alternator/regulator caused other problems to materialized that the auto's computer was trying to compensate for. Once the new alternator/regulator was installed the blinking/flicker lights stopped and other problems disappeared. My other recommendation is to buy a new alternator rather than a rebuilt. The cost for the part was only $30 more than the rebuilt and I believe will make a difference in the long run. Replies to this message: palko (Oct 14, 2009 6:56 am) palko (Oct 20, 2009 7:28 am) bill_colwell (Oct 23, 2009 5:06 pm)
#6 of 8 Re: Blinking, flicker interior dashboard lights and headlights [bill_colwell] by palko Oct 14, 2009 (6:56 am)
Replying to: bill_colwell (Jul 21, 2009 7:20 pm) My 2004 chevy tracker has started to experience the same problems you describe. I put a digital and a multimeter on the battery while starting up cold and the headlights and dash lights and dome light started flickering until the vehicle came off fast idle. At idle these conditions didn't exist. As i wenr sown the road the flickering started again. It's not much flickering but it's there. Acceleration is fine. The digital meter shoed at no load 15.5-15.7 volts. With all the loads on the meter never went below 13.0 volts. To me the alternator and regulator are working. I even ran a test light from the alternator output to ground and it flicked as i rev'd the engine up in speed. Does this mean my regulator is going bad? My price for a rebuild is $165 plus tax. A new one is $471. (Pittsburgh,pa) I'd appreciate some guidance. Thanks..palko Replies to this message: palko (Oct 20, 2009 7:28 am) bill_colwell (Oct 23, 2009 5:06 pm)
#7 of 8 Re: Blinking, flicker interior dashboard lights and headlights [palko] by palko Oct 20, 2009 (7:28 am)
Replying to: palko (Oct 14, 2009 6:56 am) This is a follow up reply to my oct. 14 message. I had installed a test light from the alternator output to ground. When I reved the engine , the test light began to flash. There was no doubt the alternator was causing the blinking lights. i replaced with a rebuilt alternator and the problem is solved. No more blinking headlights or dash lights. Replies to this message: bill_colwell (Oct 23, 2009 5:06 pm)
#8 of 8 Re: Blinking, flicker interior dashboard lights and headlights [palko] by bill_colwell Oct 23, 2009 (5:06 pm)
Replying to: palko (Oct 20, 2009 7:28 am) Palko,   Good to hear that it was the alternator/regulator combo that was causing the problem.   My decision to go with a new alternator verses a rebuilt was that in another posting in this forum on the same problem had issues with rebuilt alternators going bad in short notice (I hope you have better luck with your rebuilt alternator).

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