|
|
VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Maximus1217
Novice
Nov 7, 2013, 10:33 PM
Post #1 of 14
(1854 views)
|
|
VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe
3.5L 5AT
81,000km
I've been having an issue for the past 3 months where car runs/drives perfectly, then out of nowhere the car will become "jerky" when accelerating and the transmission will shift rough. I noticed that when this occurs, my cabin lights and rear lights will flicker so there must be some electrical component to this. Headlights do not flicker but they are Xenon.
Video of intermittent cabin light flicker
Then yesterday, I was driving without issues and the car suddenly just about went dead. All my dash lights dimmed, the car lost power (was just able to idle but couldn't accelerate. Kind of went limp.). Also got a whole bunch of dash lights. Lights are ABS, Slip, and VDC. Airbag light is unrelated. I shifted into park and took a video. This is me revving the car, very sluggish....
Video of Dash Lights yesterday when car nearly died
At the time of this incident yesterday, it was dark and cold and I had been running headlights, stereo, both seat warmers... lots of load on electrical. Could be coincidence, but I shut the car off, waited, and started up twice. Both times the car was fine for a matter of seconds before sudden loss of power like in the above video. The third time, I shut off headlights, heat/fan, seat warmer, stereo and was able to drive it home ~1km without an issue.
I am thinking Alternator/Regulator...
NOTES:
- Alternator replaced <2yrs ago. I have 5 weeks left in the warranty so if this is an alternator issue I need to figure out a way fast to prove it.
- Alternator giving 106amps, steady voltage from idle to rev (although have not been able to get a multimeter on it fast enough to catch readings during flickering)
- Battery replaced 1 yr ago
(This post was edited by Maximus1217 on Nov 7, 2013, 10:40 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 8, 2013, 3:25 AM
Post #2 of 14
(1832 views)
|
|
Re: VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
Videos aren't going to tell you too much. Have the battery charged and tested first and then once you have a fully charged battery, have the charging system tested.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
huntingdeer
Novice
Nov 8, 2013, 6:52 AM
Post #3 of 14
(1822 views)
|
|
Re: VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
try to clean all wires on your battery cables.If they are dirty and not making a connection sometimes it will almost stall out cause the alternator has trouble running the car without the battery. try to rev it up a little when it does it.If the lights get bright you know its not running off the battery at the time.
|
|
| |
|
|
huntingdeer
Novice
Nov 8, 2013, 6:55 AM
Post #4 of 14
(1821 views)
|
|
Re: VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
and most parts stores will test your battery and charging system free.I would do get them to go test it.
|
|
| |
|
|
Maximus1217
Novice
Nov 8, 2013, 4:51 PM
Post #6 of 14
(1799 views)
|
|
Re: VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
Videos aren't going to tell you too much. Have the battery charged and tested first and then once you have a fully charged battery, have the charging system tested.
Wasn't hoping a video would solve my problem, but it is a good way to accurately convey some of the symptoms to people like yourself who have more of an automotive background.
Thanks, when you say have the charging system tested... I have had the voltage and amperage measured at idle, while revving, and while the system is under load by a mechanic. The car never gave any symptoms during the test though. It is pretty intermittent. Is a charging system test more thorough?
I have a volt-meter in the car full-time now, just waiting for another large issue then I should have some voltage readings.
try to clean all wires on your battery cables.If they are dirty and not making a connection sometimes it will almost stall out cause the alternator has trouble running the car without the battery. try to rev it up a little when it does it.If the lights get bright you know its not running off the battery at the time.
Thanks for the reply. I brought the car to a mechanic about a month ago, and he cleaned all grounds so I'm still trying to figure out what is next.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 8, 2013, 5:01 PM
Post #7 of 14
(1795 views)
|
|
Re: VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
You need to read the battery voltage with an accurate digital voltmeter while the problem is present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 8, 2013, 5:07 PM
Post #8 of 14
(1793 views)
|
|
Re: VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
You might not see the voltage fluctuations with a meter when the dome light is flickering. You'll need a scope to see that because meter is going to average out the voltage reading. Usually it is a regulator problem that causes the flickering or the regulator isn't grounded in the alternator chassis properly. Cheap reman alternators are bad about that also. Did your mechanic check for excessive AC ripple?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Nov 8, 2013, 5:17 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 8, 2013, 5:32 PM
Post #11 of 14
(1781 views)
|
|
Re: VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
Alternator giving 106amps, steady voltage from idle to rev (although have not been able to get a multimeter on it fast enough to catch readings during flickering)
That alternator is working its ass off. It is rated for 110. What is turned on when it is pushing that out?
Do you have any aftermarket equipment, such as stereo amps, hair drier, or refrigerator?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Nov 8, 2013, 5:33 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Maximus1217
Novice
Nov 8, 2013, 5:50 PM
Post #12 of 14
(1774 views)
|
|
Re: VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
Alternator giving 106amps, steady voltage from idle to rev (although have not been able to get a multimeter on it fast enough to catch readings during flickering) That alternator is working its ass off. It is rated for 110. What is turned on when it is pushing that out? Do you have any aftermarket equipment, such as stereo amps, hair drier, or refrigerator?
Hhaha sorry, to clarify, my mechanic hooked up a machine to put the system under load. He got steady voltage while the alternator put out up to 106amps. To him the alternator seemed really strong. But every time I go there the car performs perfectly... sort of an ongoing joke.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 8, 2013, 6:02 PM
Post #13 of 14
(1769 views)
|
|
Re: VIDEOS Included: Lights intermittently flickering, losing power
|
Sign In
|
|
You know, load testing like that is a really bad idea on today's alternators. They aren't built to handle high output like that and often fail when put under those circumstances.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
