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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Northern California
Posts: 786
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Dim headlights question
When driving at night my headlights dim as I come to a stop and noticeably brighten when I accelerate. The ground strap near the tranny is in good shape as is the battery. The car is an 80 SC and at some point someone upgraded the alternator with an internal regulator as I can't find the stock regulator behind the rear fuse cover. When I run the car and get the idle up to about 1500 rpm the voltage at the battery is about 14.4 volts. Does this signify a bad regulator? What else can I check?
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09-24-2005, 03:07 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,067
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Sounds like the regulator and/ or alternator are going bad. If you pull the alternator and take it to a shop, they can test it for you. Your symptoms are similar to mine before the alternator died completely, leaving me a $200 tow job from my house. You should get it looked at before it leaves you stranded.
Good luck.
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1984 Targa |
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09-24-2005, 03:55 PM
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Location: Northern California
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Thanks - I'll get it done asap. Can it be taken to any alternator shop?
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09-24-2005, 09:25 PM
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Location: Northern California
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Also, if I get it rebuilt by an alternater shop do they normally replace the diodes also?
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09-24-2005, 10:03 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Southern California
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As a general rule, most alternator rebuilders will replace what's broken. So, if you want all of the diodes replaced, you might have to ask and might have to pay extra.
Our cars are not mysterious. My guess is that most shops that work on foreign alternators can do a rebuild. I had mine rebuilt by a local shop that does foreign alternators and starters, and it cost me $85. Two years later, it's still working fine. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
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1984 Targa |
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09-25-2005, 07:20 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Northern California
Posts: 786
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Thanks for the info - I wil let you know.
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09-25-2005, 05:58 PM
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