Alternator?

[MikeCT]

A strange thing happened the other night. I had started my car to warm it up before leaving for class and it was fine. I started driving down the road put my lights on and the interior gage lights seemed dim. I kept driving and the lights got dimmer, it got to the point where the radio shut it self off and I could barely see the gages. So I was ready to turn around and drive home but what I did was rev the engine up a bit and when the rpms got to about 4k the lights came back up to full strength and it was fine for the rest of the drive. Is this a sign that the alternator is starting to go?

[AznDrgn]

alternator or it could be a loose ground somewhere.

[SoCal Driver]

Grounds!!! It's always the grounds!!!

Wires with out fuses!

Fuses with out wires!

Loose grounds!!!

When will this madness stop!!!!

[MikeCT]

Well if i am to start checking grounds where is a good place to begin?

[SoCal Driver]

On the early 944's the ground wire from the battery where it is bolted to the fire wall. Then the ground wires on the other side from the fire wall to the engine. Now you need to check the positive wire from the battery to the starter and the smaller wire on the starters large terminal to the alternator. This is the major path for the alternator charging to the battery.

The small (aprox 10 gauge) red wires from the batteries positive side feed the power into the car. These should be clean too.

Under the dash toward the drivers door is a large cluster of ground wires for the instruments. These need to be "cleaned" -- pulled off and reconnected.

To properly check your charging circuit you need to put a digital volt meter on the battery and check for a little over 14 volts DC with the engine at a high idle.

However from what you have mentioned I would say it's time to get the alternator properly overhauled/rebuilt.

[ernestedward]

Sounds very similar to what was going on with my alt - got a rebuilt unit put on and all is well. My grounds, however, were fine. Doesn't mean you shouldn't check yours.

[MikeCT]

Well cheap and easy first, that's what my auto shop teacher always said.

[toolboy62]

I suspect that your brushes are gone. You've just described exactly the symptoms my car was giving me when the brushes wore out. Good news is you just need a new regulator (the brushes are integral with the regulator) and you only have to pull the airbox to get at it.

Good luck,

nate