Auto Sparkies...Lend me your ear

[Orson]

Having an issue with the cage (N14 Pulsar SSS for what it's worth)

About a week ago, while driving along, the park brake light and battery light both came on flickering, getting brighter with RPM and pretty much going out at idle. While this is happening, the radio (sometimes) cuts in and out (pioneer head unit that I don't think was ever installed properly). Another associated symptom was the digital clock would get really bright and there was whizzing noise that sounded like it was coming from the engine bay that would rise and fall with RPM. I also noticed that wipers and electric windows would also work faster....almost like there was a spike or more a sustained voltage increase.

Then simultaneously, all of this would simply stop and everything worked fine/as normal again. In one 20km journey, this set of symptoms may occur once for 10-15mins or a couple of times. I should also mention at this point that turning the car off and back on again straight away immediately made the issues (temporarily) go away.

Yesterday, the alternator belt began to squeal, so I adjusted it up and the squeal went away.....the odd gremlins continued however (not that I expected adjusting the alt belt would fix them). On the way home today I was just thinking about how I should really get it looked at but that also how odd it was that I hadn't noticed it occurring on this particular drive.

Then, about 400m from home, the ABS light randomly comes on *weird*. I pull into the garage and shut her off. I figure I'll try firing her up again straight way to see what happens *nothing*....well the accessory lights etc come on but it won't start. So now I don't know what to do. Obviously I should load test the battery to see if it's shagged but it'll need a charge first right? Secondly, based on the nature of the gremlins (and it kills me to say this) but I really don't think it's the battery (olol)

Any ideas? Anyone had something like this before?

[darkfibre]

Check the charge rate when its acting up. If its overcharging you will want to rectify it.

[milesiles]

^^^ lol.

Yeah just your alternator/ rectifier playing up. Don't know about that model but some are just little bolt on units and some are built in. Either way pretty easy fix.

[Rich]

I'll go on record right now...

You have a bad main earth...

The cable probably had powdery stuff near where the insulation stops at the battery end...

The lead is probably totally fucked if you peel the insulation back...

[Falcore]

+1 to rich and/or chuck a multimeter on it while its running an see what's happening

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[Orson]

Hmmmm.....I'll take a look at the lead.

Gonna have a pro look at it ASAP.

[K1GxR]

+1 regulator

though the a bad earth generally causes things to cut in and out, the fact things get brighter points to the regulator. i have seen stranger things happen, best get the multimeter or pro to have a squiz at it. Regulator issues can be intermittent, and when the car goes to a mechanic, the problem doesn't happen

[Orson]

Brand new alternator arrived on my desk today. Auto Sparky coming to install and generally check things out tomorrow.

[agrid]

I was just about to say, don't spend any money. I remember these exact symptoms on my HQ Holden about 25 years ago. The good news is the fix was simple and cost next to nothing. The bad news is I just can't remember what it was.

It was something easy like a fuse or dodgy lead. If only I hadn't drunk 22,000 litres of beer over the last quarter century I might be able to help.