need help

[MethodFX]

i've been having a problem for awhile that's got me totally shot - i have a voltage meter in the car and the needle bounces around sometimes. it'll go from 14.5v with vehicle running down to 12v then to 13v to 12v to 14 ... it only stops bouncing around when i rev the engine to 3,500 rpm. it'll read 12.5v with the car at idle also. my headlights dim pretty easy as well. i've checked out the ELD and have tried 2 alternators that were both good and still the problem the won't go away. anyone have any ideas, i'm lost. my interior lights also pulse with rpm of the engine(they pulse faster at 3,500 than they do at 1,500).

any ideas would be VERYT helpful!

[M3kamikaze]

do you have a sound system with a capacitor?

[MethodFX]

no cap - i think they are a waste of $. the problem doesn't go away with the stereo main fuse pulled out, it's not from the system.

[laz]

I forget is the voltage regulator on the cb7 internally in the alternator, or is it separate? If it is separate I would look into that since it seems that the voltage is just spiking all over the place.

Good Luck

X

[GSteg]

a capacitor (most of today's) are not worth getting, especially with a stock electrical system.




how old is the battery?

[SoySauceCb7]

if you have this problem with the system off then replace your alternator but otherwise you need a cap