Problem with 1981 Caprice.

[kNoykos]

I have a 81 caprice. and this past week i was driving home in the dark and all of a sudden when i would press on the breaks my check engine light would come on and then my lights started to get dimmer. By the time i got home i barely had any head lights. when i shut my car off when i got home it didnt want to start. The next day my dad came over and jumped my car. it started up. That night i was driving and the same thing happened. but it was also making this little ticking noise when i would press on the break and hold it. it sounded like someone was knocking on my window but they werent.

if anyone knows what could be wrong PLEASEE let me know.. Im in dying need of a answer..

[silicon212]

I don't think the two problems are connected.

Check the brakes for mechanical issues. Also, check the electrical (charging) system. Sounds like the alternator is not working properly.

[kNoykos]

well i just put a new alternator on just over a year ago.

[kNoykos]

does anyone have any ideas why its doing this??

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by kNoykos

well i just put a new alternator on just over a year ago.

Does not mean a thing. Check it. I've had an alternator suffer a spectacular mechanical failure less than a week after purchasing it.

[kNoykos]

okay. sorry.. i have no idea about cars. i'll take it to autozone and have it checked tomorrow. and i'll let you know what i find out.

[beat88ls]

like silicon said, i had a s15 blazer that ate alternators. in five years i replaced the alternator four times. i had to replace the alternator in my 88 caprice the day i bought it and had to replace the alternator in my 83 two weeks after i got it.

[kNoykos]

blah. that sucks. well im taking my car over today so i'll have them check my alternator. cross my fingers!!!!

[82CapriceClassic]

so what was it?

i know sometimes when i start my car...the battery light comes on...then when i put it in drive and step on the gas it goes off and sometimes my flip screen will go off in the middle of drivin...im thinkin the 2 15s i hate in the trunk is drainin the power or something...or it may be the alternator

[kNoykos]

ohh.. sorry uh i had it tested and when the lights on my car were off it was at 50 or whatever. and then when i turned them on and they checked it, it was at 23. soo he said i might have something wrong with the regulator in the alternator or something else.. im gonna take it back this weekend when i have someone to drive me to return it.. so im hoping it was that..

[kNoykos]

well i took my alternator back to advance auto...they tested it right in front of me and it tested like 14.9v without load and when they load tested it it tested at 14.7v....this leads me to believe the alternator is operating properly. my boyfriend sanded all the electrical mating surfaces to ensure everything had a good connection...so could i have a ground problem somewhere?

[silicon212]

It could be a ground issue. Check the grounds between the battery and the chassis, as well as the grounds in the headlight wiring harness.

[kNoykos]

ok i will do that...where are the grounds for the headlights located i do have one that will not work with low beams but when i turn my brights(high beams) on the both work...passenger side is the one that doesn't work on low beams.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by kNoykos

ok i will do that...where are the grounds for the headlights located i do have one that will not work with low beams but when i turn my brights(high beams) on the both work...passenger side is the one that doesn't work on low beams.

if the grounds at the battery and on the engine are good I believe your alternator is defective...it may be that the windings of the armature [the thingy that spins inside the alternator] has issues.....at idle all looks good...thats why this is a tough problem for the rookies....to figure out...

obviously the connections at the alternator must be clean no corrosion...

on the head lights clean all pins and connections to the headlamp connectors....replace lamps if you have to bang them to get them to work

[Sunbound85]

Originally Posted by j cAT

if the grounds at the battery and on the engine are good I believe your alternator is defective...it may be that the windings of the armature [the thingy that spins inside the alternator] has issues.....at idle all looks good...thats why this is a tough problem for the rookies....to figure out...

obviously the connections at the alternator must be clean no corrosion...

on the head lights clean all pins and connections to the headlamp connectors....replace lamps if you have to bang them to get them to work

Interestingly I had the exact same 'dying head lights' on my Caprice once or twice. It was the stalk on the column that operates the brights, these seem to fail quite easily, mine ended up locked on bright, but for a long time if I tried to dip or flash my lights, poof out went all the headlights. One thing to note, you have an '84 by now those plastic connectors on the head lights will be very brittle, be careful with them, mine crumbled in my hand, but i was able to rig an electrical tape job, but I wouldn't advise that for long term reliability. Those plastic connectors are probably still available though, sealed beams are used on many commercial vehicles still.

A test I always use to test whether my alternator was doing its job was to disconnect the Neg battery post while the car was running, if the engine quit, something is definitely wrong with the charging system. Good luck with your electrical gremlins, it's a part of the joy of owning a vehicle that is 1/4 of a century old!