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Chevy Tracker Lights and Headlights

25 messages,  Last post on Jan 07, 2013 at 11:47 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Tracker, Auto Body

    

Messages Page 2 of 3

#10 of 25 Re: Blinking, flicker interior dashboard lights and headlights [bill_colwell] by palko

Oct 14, 2009 (7:56 am)

Replying to: bill_colwell (Jul 21, 2009 8:20 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

#11 of 25 Re: Blinking, flicker interior dashboard lights and headlights [palko] by palko

Oct 20, 2009 (8:28 am)

Replying to: palko (Oct 14, 2009 7:56 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.

#12 of 25 Re: Blinking, flicker interior dashboard lights and headlights [palko] by bill_colwell

Oct 23, 2009 (6:06 pm)

Replying to: palko (Oct 20, 2009 8:28 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).

#13 of 25 disconnect DRL? by vanner1

Feb 03, 2010 (1:18 pm)

I want to ditch the daytime running lights and auto-on lights on my 2000 Tracker. Anyone know if t's possible, and how? I just want to turn on the lights all by myself when I need them, and I don't want DRL. That simple.

#14 of 25 Re: blinking lights and disconnect DRL? [vanner1] by vanner1

Feb 06, 2010 (7:56 am)

Replying to: vanner1 (Feb 03, 2010 1:18 pm)
Facing the blinking lights issue at 133K miles, as have others, I took my 2000 Tracker to our city's most respected auto electric specialist. Of course they couldn't find any problem and even test drove it ten minutes on city streets! Digital meter showed them nothing. In short, they didn't listen, and they're the best in town. One day wasted.
 
So I told them to replace the alternator/regulator (original, I have to add) anyway and in a Midwest metro area of 1.2M people, there isn't a new one or rebuilt one to be found! Not even looking under Vitara, and not at Chevy or Suzuki dealers. (I checked and found the same, although I could order rebuilt ones from a couple of chain parts stores with 2-3 day delivery IF this snowstorm hadn't crippled the East!) Since this shop rebuilds "in house" as a specialty, I let them do that. Took two more days to get the stator and regulator they needed! Okay - three full days out! (I will say they are nice folks and this job cost me less than the price of a chain-supplied rebuilt alternator! All their work is warranted two years.)
 
Got it back yesterday and haven't had a chance to get out on the highway the required 10 minutes to get it to act up. Today, maybe, once the roads are cleared of ice.
 
I DID find out the DRLs can be disabled by removing the DRL Relay and bending over one tab then putting the relay back in. I will not discuss which tab. I think you'd better know what you're doing and better have a spare relay on hand in case you make a wrong move and also break that tab. (I have a spare and intend to try it today.) There is information elsewhere on the Net. Maybe one reliable post.
 
The auto-on lights "can" be disabled at the photo-sensor on the dash, but this requires some knowledge and some electrical skill, so I won't go very far into that either other than to explain you have to remove a couple of wires at the cell and insert a rather large in-line resistor of a certain size, between the two wires, and put the whole mess back inside the dash. I imagine it would pay well to test it first. Then you should secure those wires somehow up where you can get to them later. Again, a lot of searching on the Net will get you two mentions, one of which is not correct. Resistor comes from Radio Shack and you'll want a couple of cheap connectors so the change isn't permanent.
 
I'll report back later.
 
At 133K miles, this being one of the very best vehicles I've ever owned, and easily my favorite out of dozens, it's plenty worth a few repairs, to me. (We have a 2007 Kia Rondo right now that is quickly edging the Tracker as the best and my favorite!)

#15 of 25 I had this problem. by sbrudzsmith

Jun 15, 2011 (1:11 pm)

The lights on the dash, headlights, and even the lamp inside flickers when your accelerating.
This is caused by an EGR Valve vacuum leak. I think it cost me about $300-$500 to fix.

#16 of 25 Re: blinking lights and disconnect DRL? [vanner1] by jdungy

Oct 08, 2011 (8:02 pm)

Replying to: vanner1 (Feb 06, 2010 7:56 am)
Hey Vanner1
I had the problem with my lights blinking. I think I finally found out the tension idler was not holding the belt tension tight, and it lets the belt slip.
When the alternator is pulling hard, the belt slips and re-catches. I have changed my tensioner and it seems to have cured the problem
Hope this works for you
Jesse

#18 of 25 4 WD dash light flickers when fan is on AC surges by saddledust

Nov 07, 2011 (10:55 pm)

Summer 2011 I took my 2001 ZR2 2dr conv tracker (153K miles) into have the AC checked as it occasionally ran cold. He checked it and said the levels were fine, but thought it was strange a fuse was missing from beneath the hood (beats me). So he replaced the fuse did maintenance on AC and all was well...for 2 days! (I live 75 miles from the AC place). So, I needed my smog certificate so I took it into the fellow who normally does the smog check. I explained the AC.
 
I returned for the Tracker and he said the AC looks fine, I replaced the serp belt, sparkplugs, and smog. Everything is good. Okay.
 
I received no satisfaction regarding the AC issue with him either, so I took it back to the original AC place. He did some more checking and found that the previous owner had installed an alarm system (which was removed when I purchased it) and said that there was a bare wire, so he capped/taped it. He says strangly the AC compressor was surging 20 seconds on then 20 off, and so on as it cycled. He told me not to run the AC as it was damaging the new serp belt, and not to run defrost as it cycles through the AC compressor. Now, driving the 75 miles home, the 4 wheel driver dash light flickered off and on when I turned on the fan---whether using the defrost or AC. It flickers. Turn off the fan...no flicker. Now What?
 
I take it back to the AC fellow and have the compressor replaced. I could survive the 110 degree heat in his town, but not being able to use the defrost come this winter would we disaster. I live in the mountains/snow. So, I was happy! But, the light still flickered! And the AC still surged! I took it back and he said he couldn't figure out why the flickering, but removed all the wiring harness from the previous alarm install. Still a flicker, still a surge. Some days no surge...some a lot. You can hear it click on and off, especially if standing outside of the Tracker.
 
AC fellow researched on line to no real help. Said possibly the $500 AC 'board' 'brain' may need replacing, but wasn't sure. So maybe?
 
Anyone with any idea? Anyone with a wiring scmatic to the 4wd light and fan switch? Or where to find it?
 
There you have it. I love this little ride, but ready to rid myself of it. 2 transmissions in last 4 years, acuator pump, rear seal, this ac.... nickel and dimes keep falling. Almost out.

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