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Electrical problem diagnosis


Bad_Brad
10-09-2016, 07:49 PM
My 97 Cavalier is experiencing electrical issues. The issue itself is sporadic, it comes and goes. What happens is nearly all the lights on the dash will illuminate, oil, battery, fog light, check engine, seat belt, abs, threat system and a few I've never seen before. However, some lights don't illuminate, the the turn signals and the highbeam both of which appear to function normally. The temperature gauge will also flatline, the wipers will slowdown, and the headlights will dim and flicker.

Even with all this going on my car starts fine and drives fine.

What could be the cause of this?

Stealthee
10-09-2016, 08:11 PM
Sounds like the alternator may be malfunctioning at times and may be on its way out.

Bad_Brad
11-03-2016, 05:17 PM
Update 11/3/16

Got my car back from Midas. My hunch was that this problem was related to the grounding of the battery. The part of the frame the ground was connected to was rusted through. Replacing the wire and establishing a new ground point fixed the electrical issue.

But, does this mean there is power flowing continuously through the ground?

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