Legacy wagon electrical problems

[dinedvl]

I have a 95 legacy wagon with about 145K. I think the problem i am experiencing might be similar to the subaru owner in a previous post.

About 3 months ago my car starting slowly shutting down while driving. It was raining heavily and the wipers were on. First the radio went out, then lights dimmed, then speedometer and rpm needle dropped and finally car stopped. After a few minutes or hours it will start again. This happened a few times throughout the week always during rain. A friend of mine recharged the battery and the problem disappeared for about 2 months (even though it would rain). Until a couple of weeks ago, again during rain, the lovely problem returned. I purchased a new battery but no good. So now i simply avoid using my wipers when it is raining (a bit of a problem since i live in the rainiest place in the US) and even though the lights will flicker a bit, the car hasnt shut down again, but i can tell there is something strange.

A friend checked out the voltage etc, and all seems great. He checked my wires and they all seem ok too. He thinks it might be the altenator bearings...but replacing the altenator will be close to $200. So i am just wanting to make sure there is no other possible problem. If anyone has experienced this before or has some suggestions, help is greatly appreciated!!!
Thanx

[sha_zapple]

I seem to remember something like this on NASIOC.com

I think it was the alternator going bad.

[Nastypieceawork]

The fact that you believe it only seems to occur when its raining tells me that its not necessarily a buggered alternator. Just take it to a garage and get them to run an electrical diagnostic on it. Not sure how much it would cost you to do, but in New Zealand it only cost me NZD$40.00 to get Subaru to test my electrics ....very interesting.

Good Luck!

Subaru Legacy 1996 GTB Twin Turbo owner.

[Gr1mreaper]

It is your alternator causing the problem. I am sure there is a component (regulator) on the rear or just inside your alternator that can be replaced relatively cheap by an electrical repairers.

[Will2]

GR1mreaper is right. The voltage regulator is in the alternator. And what your describing sounds like a voltage regulation problem.