On my way to the parade and then 😩

[Rtrorkt]

Got about 25 miles from home oil pressure gauge starting fluttering then dash lights dimmed, started to miss/backfire. Losing forward momentum car is bucking. Made it to a parking lot (with Starbucks). Turned it off. No start but headlights work

Just had a new voltage regulator installed. Thinking it failed. Thoughts?

[dannobee]

Do you have any tools available? Voltmeter?

When you say it doesn't start, does it crank over? If not, do the headlights go dim when you try?

Does it start with a jump start?

[917_Langheck]

What is the batt voltage?

Will it start with jump leads and another batt, but falter once removed?

Symptoms are familiar to me in another vehicle as a dying batt due to alty failure; read bad diodes or regulator.

[blucille]

Any chance it was the battery/charge light instead of the oil pressure light? They can easily get mixed up when you take the gauges out.

[Rtrorkt]

Thanks. Car is now parked at the shop that did the regulator and I’m at the Parade. Might be a blessing in disguise as it is freaking hot like Scottsdale. Drove my Range Rover diesel over.

No battery charge light on the dash. Just jumpy oil pressure gauge, dimming dash lights and bucking and backfiring. It may be the new regulator caused a cascading series of events or it’s a bad regulator. Keep the ideas coming though. Would love to hear the group consensus.

[High Life]

from dannobee's first post - If the engine cranked, then that would lead us to believe you have enough power in the battery and thus maybe NOT a regulator issue.. as the battery was being charged.

If your "no start" just gave you a "click" and did not crank the engine, that suggests alternator and or regulator issue, as battery does not have enough power to crank (or give you much of a crank rotation). This condition (low battery) could cause the symptoms you speak of..

Having a voltmeter a person could easily perform a quick diagnosis.

[Rtrorkt]

Headlights work. Suggests battery is ok. Has an optima. Click on the key start. What I did not understand was the bucking and backfiring with loss of forward motion.

[blucille]

Originally Posted by Rtrorkt

Headlights work. Suggests battery is ok. Has an optima. Click on the key start. What I did not understand was the bucking and backfiring with loss of forward motion.

not exactly, it takes very little current to light up the headlights, <100 watts, it takes 1000's of watts to make the starter motor turn.

CDI ignition? Ignition systems can be very sensitive to voltage and current, especially at higher revs

[High Life]

Headlights will have a smaller draw on the battery (than a crank) and could still turn on with a low / "bad" battery.

A cranking test will indicate whether a battery is good or bad.

Of course if your alternator is bad (bad regulator) then not enough (or none) charge is there for the battery.

(IMHO) The shop should have performed all these checks before letting you take it off their lot..

Low voltage / charging to your ignition system can cause those issues.

[High Life]

Just another suggestion - the ground wire could have been loose or a wire connecting the regulator could have came loose and not connected... A quick visual to make sure everything is connected and tight would be the first inspection.

[Rtrorkt]

Agree on the headlights, they are H4 with LED bulbs, so little draw. I did not have a volt meter with me. Will throw it in the travel bag next time. It is a bone stock 3.2 with the standard components. Has been bullet proof up to now.

Was so pissed I did not try to crank it but once. My memory is that it clicked but no more. I had been having a power draw somewhere, but that got diagnosed to the clock.

The bucking and backfire suggests to me that not enough current was getting to the spark plugs. New wires were just installed so that should not be an issue.

If you are at the parade I will buy a round just to commiserate.

I appreciate all of the suggestions.

[914Ravi911]

Sorry to hear the car. Glad you made it to Parade. See you there.
Will at the zone social shortly

[pmax]

Replace the battery ... do the simple stuff first.

[Rtrorkt]

Originally Posted by 914Ravi911

Sorry to hear the car. Glad you made it to Parade. See you there.
Will at the zone social shortly

Ouch, $11 for bad wine. Going to the dinner. Table 65. Hope the booze is better. Will take the sting out of car troubles.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I’m hoping it’s the regulator. Would be covered by the shop

[smadsen]

Jump to a good battery and see if your problems go away.

[Coblue]

Have it properly diagnosed before you start replacing parts.

[917_Langheck]

Check also wire connections at the starter. Power to batt from alty flows via starter. Loose connection there can leave you with a flat batt.

[Rtrorkt]

Quick update. Got back to the shop that has the car and they have ordered a new alternator. Was not able to talk in detail with the tech, but a new unit will go on the car. Guess the new voltage regulator shocked the old alternator