Alternator false alarm?

[Bessie the Mud Slayer]

Drove from Kamloops to Penticton today, and about halfway between Merrit & the junction the three dummy lights started flikering. From reading here I knew what it meant, but pushed on.
That came and went for the remainder of the drive. (80km or so) After a stop at starbucks for some fuel, the dummy lights were just dimly lit, not flickering, and would stay on for a few seconds, then off for a few.
So I dropped my wife off at her course and headed to Crappy Tire.

I cleaned both terminals on the battery and replaced the wire clamps, and the dummy lights are good now.

Sound like the connection was the problem? Or perhaps the alternator still?

I'd check with my multimeter, but a. I don't have it, and b. No clue how to use it for checking the battery/alternator.

[nxski]

Those symptoms can be caused by a bad connection so hopefully that's all it was. Keep monitoring it though in case the alternator is on its way out.

[jelbon]

I had the same issue, checked the charge rate, which was well below what it should be.
Started to remove the alternator and discovered that wiring harness to the alternator was rubbing against the frame. When I cut it open I found the heavy guage wire that bolts to the alternator was 90 percent cut and was obviously shorting against the frame.
I spliced in some new wire, taped it all heavily and zap strapped it so the issue wouldn't happen again.
I was concerned that the regulator may have burnt out, but it seems to be fine now. I've since put on over 1000 k and had no problem.
I was lucky not to have had a fire!
Anyway, give it a look see.

[Bessie the Mud Slayer]

It came back! Went out for dinner and it was back, not flickering, but on for a second, off for 2. Then, on the way back to the hotel, nothing. Grrrr.

I'll check the alternator connections tomorrow.

I'm in Penticton till Sunday, might end up limping back to Kamloops...

Thanks guys.

[Bessie the Mud Slayer]

Connections all look good on visual inspection. The wire seems to be a little 'tight', perhaps routed over, rather than under some other hoses. Aside from that, not much I can check in a hotel parking lot.
Quite frustrating as its on again off again kinda...

For now I'm going to ignore it, might post up for some help testing with my multimeter when I get back to Kamloops.

Till then, thanks for the input.

[bionic]

...don't ignore it. Its telling you that the alternator charging rate is not sufficient. It will eventually fail and hopefully not take that new battery with it.

[naterade]

I had a similar situation, and I would echo the other guys in saying it likely is the alternator, and although it hasn't completely failed yet, it is probably on the way out... Better to fix now than get stranded somewhere later.

Most cost efficient solution is to find someone who can rebuild your alternator. Cheaper than a new one, and you still usually get a warranty. They can test it first too, to be sure that is the problem.

[mararmeisto]

Bad connections get better after you fix them, but a dying alternator never gets better.