Electrical Fun (flickering)

[irowiki]

So our 84 Auto (Pokey) acquired an electrical gremlin recently. Everything flickers, dash lights, headlights, even the blower fan sounds off. At idle while in gear, the blower fan will surge (engine RPM's will go down and the blower fan will speed up)

Battery is from 2012. Ran the battery almost flat on the way home from the PNW by leaving the headlights on at a rest stop at 3 AM (I was tired!) Got a jump, and the battery worked mostly swimmingly since then (would trickle charge it in the winter just in case)

Externally regulated alternator, and the regulator was replaced before I bought her. (Peter, was it a new, or used unit?).

This morning, wife tried to take the car out, and the dash lights were dim and the car wouldn't turn over. (rrrr rrrr rrrr sounds)

Does this sound like the battery may have died, the alternator may be going out, or the regulator is bad?

I have a brand new battery that is destined for the Party Wagon I could swap in and see what happens, unless y'all think it is the alternator or regulator, I don't want to ruin a new battery!

Edit: I swapped batteries and it is doing the same thing. Flickering regardless of load. Voltage going all over. Will get you exact voltage readings after lunch.

[Gottolovem]

look for a loose wire battery,regulator,starter,alternator etc.
If the voltage is jumping all around it could be the regulator.

[Petros]

regulator was new. clean both ends of the battery terminal cables, if problem persists likely alternator. Many auto electrical repair places will test your alternator for free, AutoZone and Napa also does but you have to remove it.

put a volt meter on the battery, with engine off check voltage, than start car and check again. If it does not go up to about 14 volts to recharge, than likely the alternator is bad (could be voltage reg too, no reason to think it is good just because it is only 2 years old). Take alternator out and have a retail store check it for output. you will know for sure than if it is voltage regulator or alternator.

[irowiki]

Got a volt meter out, battery was at 12.5. Started car, voltage on battery goes from 12 to 14 to 13 and bounces all over, regardless of load on alternator.

I do have a spare alternator I can try.

Should I have my volt tester anywhere else as a test, such as alternator terminals, etc?

[irowiki]

Took Pokey to Autozone, they had this handy tester that first said the battery was good, then said the regulator was bad!

[irowiki]

Voltage regulator fixed, problem solved!

Though it looks like a previous voltage regulator overloaded, the plug on the car side was partially melted once.