weird voltage issues on my thanksgiving trip

[davedog]

Hey guys!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Been having some weird issues since I arrived "up north" for the thanksgiving break.

First issue has been happening on and off for a few weeks, but it's been more frequent since we got here.

When driving at night, and I hit the breaks, my headlights dim a good bit for a second (as do the interior lights), then return to normal. I decided to watch the voltage indicator last night on the DIC, and the longer I held the break down, the lower the voltage would slowly go (even though all the lights return to their normal 'brightness'). I've cehcked all the bulbs, none are burned out. I have a 400 watt amp and subs, and I turned them off, this makes no difference.

Normallly my voltage sits around 14.1, but last night I noticed when I was listening to the radio I had no bass, I checked my amp, is was turned on, but putting out very little bass. The voltage was 13.4. I turned off the heat, and drove alittle faster, the voltage started climbing to 13.8, and the bass started returning????

Weird.

Thins moring the DIC read 14.6 volts. Even with the heat going. I have not used the radio yet.

What do you guys think. This northern weather is very cold compared to GA, but the battery is only 1 1/2 years old (1000 amp). No corrosion on the terminals that I can see. Is my battery going already? Alternator? Short somewhere. Or am I just too paranoid.

Thanks ahead of time.

-dave

[Webmast84]

I would try a different battery or battery cables. I remember one time I purchased a new starter thinking it was dead when it was just my Battery Cables lol. Oh well, at least I had a new starter.

[adallak]

Check out the tail light sockets for shorts. YOu probably will want to replace some bulbs too as soon as you see their condition. Hard to see through the red plastic cover. The light assemblies are easy to remove and inspect.

[BodybyFisher]

You will start seeing higher charging rates in the winter time, if that is what your are concerned with, but that is normal.

However, what I didn't like in your description was "my headlights dim a good bit", I would clean my battery terminals really good.

[adallak]

When driving at night, and I hit the breaks, my headlights dim a good bit for a second (as do the interior lights), then return to normal.

Your headlights do not deem when you turn on the radio right? Only when you hit the breaks.

[davedog]

When driving at night, and I hit the breaks, my headlights dim a good bit for a second (as do the interior lights), then return to normal.

Your headlights do not deem when you turn on the radio right? Only when you hit the breaks.

sorry it took so long to write back, traveling without internet sucks!

Anyway, yes, pretty much the only time the headlights dim is when I hit the breaks, and then they come right back, but it's really annoying, ecsepcially when you have to break a few times with the healights dimmming, then bright again, and so on.

[adallak]

When driving at night, and I hit the breaks, my headlights dim a good bit for a second (as do the interior lights), then return to normal.

Your headlights do not deem when you turn on the radio right? Only when you hit the breaks.

sorry it took so long to write back, traveling without internet sucks!

Anyway, yes, pretty much the only time the headlights dim is when I hit the breaks, and then they come right back, but it's really annoying, ecsepcially when you have to break a few times with the healights dimmming, then bright again, and so on.

Have someone press the brake pedal and you watch the brake lights. Do they work? Something in that circuit drains the current.

[davedog]

When driving at night, and I hit the breaks, my headlights dim a good bit for a second (as do the interior lights), then return to normal.

Your headlights do not deem when you turn on the radio right? Only when you hit the breaks.

sorry it took so long to write back, traveling without internet sucks!

Anyway, yes, pretty much the only time the headlights dim is when I hit the breaks, and then they come right back, but it's really annoying, ecsepcially when you have to break a few times with the healights dimmming, then bright again, and so on.

Have someone press the brake pedal and you watch the brake lights. Do they work? Something in that circuit drains the current.

yup, already did that, all lights work.

something else i noticed though on the 600+ mile trip home last night. It looks like (and I could be wrong) that when I hit either turn signal the headlighs dim for a second like they do when i hit the breaks, but it's not as defined, and it could just be in my head

thanks for the help thus far!

[Bill K]

Check out the tail light sockets for shorts. YOu probably will want to replace some bulbs too as soon as you see their condition. Hard to see through the red plastic cover. The light assemblies are easy to remove and inspect.

I agree. Sounds like your tail light sockets may be the problem. A number of people have had to replace them. Not very costly and may solve the problem.

[davedog]

Check out the tail light sockets for shorts. YOu probably will want to replace some bulbs too as soon as you see their condition. Hard to see through the red plastic cover.  The light assemblies are easy to remove and inspect.

I agree. Sounds like your tail light sockets may be the problem. A number of people have had to replace them. Not very costly and may solve the problem.

any way to test these sockets or something to look for before I just replace them all?

Thanks again for all your help guys. I know it's a minor problem, but it's the kind that drives me crazy.

All other voltage issues seemed to have worked out since I got back in the warmer climate, although the DIC still is hovering between 13.7 and 14.1......I could have sworn it stayed at 14.1 pretty much all the time, but i could be wrong.....never really paid it this much attention.

-dave

[Bill K]

Just take a look at them & see what you see. If they look OK (new) move on.

[Mark Grek]

Sounds like the alternator is on its way out. Possibly cable connections, or a bad cell in battery. I highly doubt it has anything to do with the sockets as you live in a warmer climate.

[Larry]

Yes it sounds as if you have a socket that is rusted , and when the light gets power from the break, instead of going through filiment its traveling on bottom of socket straight to ground. Or could be a filiment that has broke but still makes contact, but is very bright. I would think a lot of heat is also generated by this. Let us know, LARRY

[BodybyFisher]

Make sure you gunk up the base of the bulb with plenty of dialectic grease.. it helps prevent corrosion

[CaddyChris]

hey,

this exact same thing was happening to me. thought it was the alternator, put a new one on and cleaned all grounds/cables. It improved the situation a little bit but it still dims a bit when I hit the brakes. I thought it was normal.

[adallak]

davedog,

Stop by any autostore and ask them to loadtest the battery. Watch you too.