Lights: interior and exterior strange behavior.

[izzy]

Both interior and exterior lights get brighter when "gettin on the gas". I hit the gas whether from a dead stop or while already moving, no matter the speed and all lights on the car brighten up. Then when I let off the gas they go back to normal.

Recently done:

New headlights. Sylvania low beams super whites
New alternator and battery
New subwoofer wiring from radio to amp
New back up camera wiring from radio to trunk (haven't installed camera yet)

Weirdest thing ever. This is NOT anything like lights flickering when the alternator is going out. It only happens when I get in the gas. It's like a huge surge of power gets into the system. I can't believe this is normal. I don't have the old bulbs to put back in.

I couldn't find anything related to this when searching. I even used google. So don't yell at me please.

 

[chris2523]

have you checked the voltage when its doing this?
although, its almost certainly spiking.

sure sounds like a bad/overcharging alternator or something.

 

[joegr]

...New alternator and ... It only happens when I get in the gas. It's like a huge surge of power gets into the system. ...

I am going to bet that the "new alternator" isn't Motorcraft. Aftermarket alternators don't work with the 1st gen LS because the 1st gen uses an unusual alternator control strategy. It has been discussed, a lot.

 

[izzy]

have you checked the voltage when its doing this?
although, its almost certainly spiking.

sure sounds like a bad/overcharging alternator or something.

Can you please suggest how I can check the voltage while driving down the road. Especially when stomping on the gas. I can't think of how this could be done. Thank you.

 

[izzy]

I am going to bet that the "new alternator" isn't Motorcraft. Aftermarket alternators don't work with the 1st gen LS because the 1st gen uses an unusual alternator control strategy. It has been discussed, a lot.

It was put in by a shop and it is a remanufactured alternator. I don't believe it's motorcraft.

 

[joegr]

Can you please suggest how I can check the voltage while driving down the road. Especially when stomping on the gas. I can't think of how this could be done. Thank you.

Easy, connect your voltmeter to one of the power ports in the cabin. (There are lots of cheap plug in ones available if you don't want to wire yours to a plug.)

It was put in by a shop and it is a remanufactured alternator. I don't believe it's motorcraft.

Then you know the answer.

 

[izzy]

"one of the power ports in the cabin"

Do you mean the cigarette lighter?

Then you know the answer.

GD, I'm reading this as "take it back for a motorcraft".

 

[chris2523]

Can you please suggest how I can check the voltage while driving down the road. Especially when stomping on the gas. I can't think of how this could be done. Thank you.

Easy, connect your voltmeter to one of the power ports in the cabin. (There are lots of cheap plug in ones available if you don't want to wire yours to a plug.)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Equus-Innova-3721-Battery-and-Charging-System-Monitor/15137663

 

[1LoudLS]

Do you mean the cigarette lighter?

no, he means any one of the power ports (unless you only have one, then that one will do...)

the cigarette lighter is a small device that is designed to be pushed into the proper rated power port to be heated up before you can light cigs with them...

 

[1LoudLS]

Aftermarket alternators don't work with the 1st gen LS because the 1st gen uses an unusual alternator control strategy.

I don't believe it's motorcraft.

Then you know the answer.

I'm reading this as "take it back for a motorcraft".

precisely.

 

[izzy]

no, he means any one of the power ports (unless you only have one, then that one will do...)

the cigarette lighter is a small device that is designed to be pushed into the proper rated power port to be heated up before you can light cigs with them...

I don't have any power points. I don't completely know what a power point is. Other than the cigarette lighter. Maybe a picture?

 

[joegr]

I don't have any power points....

Then you don't have an LS?
Gen II has separate lighter outlets and power points. In your case, your power point is the thing that you put the cigarette lighter in. Also, you may have a power point in the rear of the center console.
http://img.justparts.com/eImage/06c8ae01-dbf4-445f-be5f-922eddc8ae72.JPG

 

[1LoudLS]

I don't have any power points. I don't completely know what a power point is. Other than the cigarette lighter. Maybe a picture?

the cigarette lighter is a small device that is designed to be pushed into the proper rated power port to be heated up before you can light cigs with them...

ok, since you have a first gen, in front of your shifter and below your climate controls, you should have a device that slides in and out, when it is out, there is an ashtray and a power port, and a cigarette lighter.

if you grab the cigarette lighter and pull it out and hold it in your hand, you have removed the cig lighter FROM the power port... when you go to plug the cig lighter back in, the hole you stick it into is the power port.



if you have a car phone charger, any place that you can plug it into and get power from, is a power port.

 

[izzy]

ok, since you have a first gen, in front of your shifter and below your climate controls, you should have a device that slides in and out, when it is out, there is an ashtray and a power port, and a cigarette lighter.

if you grab the cigarette lighter and pull it out and hold it in your hand, you have removed the cig lighter FROM the power port... when you go to plug the cig lighter back in, the hole you stick it into is the power port.



if you have a car phone charger, any place that you can plug it into and get power from, is a power port.

Yeah....This is what I said earlier and you were trying to be funny. So yes, its the cigarette lighter. Geesh.

Thanks for all the helps guys. I have it figured out.

 

[RigsLS]

... I don't completely know what a power point is ... Maybe a picture?

izzy, your 'puter not come with Google pre-installed?

 

[1LoudLS]

Yeah....This is what I said earlier and you were trying to be funny. So yes, its the cigarette lighter. Geesh.

no, Im not trying to be funny, I'm trying to help you learn the right name of the parts in your (or any) car...



if you ever want to get useful help fixing something, it really helps to call things the correct name.

when was the last time you heard somebody say that they got a flat wheel and had to use a lug nut to get the tire irons off the car?

 

[RigsLS]

or that lady that left me a vm wanting to know a few things about the previous truck I was in. called her back, turns out she was stuck doing 90Kms down the highways until she figured out what that 'red thingy' on the stick was for. It would be called a high range gear splitter and yup it is indeed red on a thirteen speed. Stay safe Mam' you can split each of the top four gears with the 'red thingy'. Good luck!

Made my day, was 20mi down the road and still in tears.

 

[izzy]

no, Im not trying to be funny, I'm trying to help you learn the right name of the parts in your (or any) car...



if you ever want to get useful help fixing something, it really helps to call things the correct name.

when was the last time you heard somebody say that they got a flat wheel and had to use a lug nut to get the tire irons off the car?

:yourock: