gauges

On my friends 84 Camaro his gauges will flicker. Like when he hits the gas the light will dim and all that good stuff. Now today he went to start it and it wont start. We checked it and his alternator is fried. Could the alternator be the reason for the flickering and when we get a new one will it stop. Or could it be something else?

Alternator is the part that recharges yoru battery after you start it (cause starting yoru car takes a bunch of juice) so I'd say it is a good part of the reason. If it still ahppens check fuses and any loose connections. :)

Thanks, i was thinking it probably had something to do with that but wanted a second opinion

Yah I had that happen on a buddy cutlass, the alternator was going, and every time u would stomp on it it would draw more power, same with turning up the system, and the dash lights would go all fawkord and such, if it isnt the alternator check your terminals, we checked ours, drove it a little more, then the crack got big and broke, that was the issue on his civic with it not starting and such.

Any clue how much a alternator with enough juice for his car would be. Its got a 5.0 in it . and a pretty heavy stereo system. So its gonna need to be strong.

Go pickup a NEW 140amp, dont buy anythign used, refurbished or anything, brand new only.

new alternators are nice when u have extra money to spend sometimes a rebuilt is the best at that time. i work at parts store and yeah i see a minor amount of them come back defective but alot more than 90% stay in the car for a while rebuilts are very good dont be scared by it.

had mine rebuilt for 50 bucks.. works better than it ever has.. and its the cleanest thing under the hood.. lol

Yah sorry, I still don't trust them, I guess its personal preference but I know 2 people who have gotten rebuilts and they have both failed, gotten a new one and everything works like it should

You saidh e is running a big sound system? Does he have a capacitor? Think of it like a big battery that uses that as a power source not the main battery, hence no dimming/flickering. That should fix up the problems. Also if your friend does have a big system and no capacitor it is a big stress on it so he may look into getting a new one if the capacitor doens't help much make sense?

Yeah thanks for the help. I dont beleive he has a compasitor. His stereo has a 2000watt amp with 2 10" subs and a 15" sub and then some small speakers that come stock. i thought it was pretty stu[id to do that. I would be focusing on the engine first, but i guess he thinks dufferent.

Yeah thats draining ALOT of juice. tell your buddy to get 1 or even 2 capacitors. My buddy is running a system like that and he has 2 one for inside speakers one just for subs.

thats funny, i had the exact different problem than the one stated. if i came to a stop light at night, (lights on, heat, radio etc) and i stopped the car, like all the lights would die, unless i turned them off AND reved the engine. so id recommend you get one, on a camaro its an easy fix,and not too expensive.