pyromanic Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 aross the bottom of the dash came on today! Just before everything lit up red, the tach got a bad case of the twitches. The needle was twitching like a tweaker coming down off a long run. Also, voltmeter in dash is now reading like 8 volts, revving motor makes no difference. However, now tach needle seems to to be working better! WTF is going on?? I'm like super busy right now with a huge carpentry project, didn't have time to do more that pop the hood and wiggle the battery terminals. They seem tight. Edit: Ok, I just went out and cleaned the batt terminal, to no avail. Tach seems fine now, but she's only running on like 8 volts. I'm guessing I've fried an alternator, but that's just a guess. Any ideas apprecieated. Thanks Pyro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samo Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Sounds like it's time for a new alternator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Sounds like it's time for a new alternator. I second that motion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyromanic Posted August 25, 2005 Author Share Posted August 25, 2005 You guys are great. Talk about an imediate response! Thanks. I've got a couple sitting around. Pyro I second that motion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Yeah, when the alt goes dead all your warning lights will illuminate. -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLCraig Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 The lights will also come on if the ground wire for the instrument cluster comes loose. You may want to check that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffast Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 i'd have to agree the alt sounds like the culprate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tin Soldier Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Ditto! Been there and done that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudduck Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Sounds like the alt. I been having problems with mine also, but none of my lights will light up real bright, and voltage has been running normal, tahn dropping down to 9-10 volts. Going to toss in anouther alt and see if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KStretch55 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 When mine went out a few weeks ago, no lights came on, and the voltmeter just slowly began to drop, until at roughly 9 volts it wouldn't run anymore. Funny that I didn't get any lights. Also, of note, the idiot lights didn't light with the key in "run" either. With the exception of the CEL. It did light in "run". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Depends on what goes out inside the alternator. You'll get different symtoms with diaods blowing out vs the voltage regulator going out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyromanic Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 I popped in a spare alt today, and all seems fine, though I only had time to drive it a mile or so. Hope it was just that the alternator was old (it was) and not something else that "caused" alternator failure. (I don't even know if that situation is possible) thanks guys, Pyro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samo Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 A really dead battery or a huge electrical drain can kill an alt in a hurry too. As long as those aren't issues, old age is mostly what gets them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noob2soob22 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 The lights will also come on if the ground wire for the instrument cluster comes loose. You may want to check that. where might I find this ground on an 83 ea81 wagon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naru Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Under the fusebox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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