Electric problem, lights dim randomly
- Thread starter paranoidxe
- Start date
paranoidxe
Member
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- Protege5 2002
humm..then maybe that wasn't the problem after all. I haven't drove the car since I cleaned the terminal but I am pretty certain that is the cause of it, it was pretty nasty lookin. Perhaps these cars just do it
paranoidxe
Member
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- Protege5 2002
Cleaned the terminal, took it for a drive (30 min) and the headlights never dimmed once. So I guess I fixed it, its little problems like that that piss me off.
Johnnybass
Member
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- Red '03 Mazda Protege 5 (auto)
paranoidxe said:
still, i have to say that every p5 i've been in (5 of them) have had this problem regardless of battery age or type...turn the sterio on and roll down your windows and i can almost assure you that it'll still dim slightly
I agree... the A/C compressor and radiator fan will cause the lights to flicker when they turn on. Its the nature of the beast. It happens on all cars to some extent.
Your car's battery will hold a charge at 12-13v but when the car is running the alternator keeps the voltage at 13.8v. If something turns on that draws a large current, the voltage will drop for a second and then the alternator's regulator will compensate and bring the voltage back up to 13.8v. Since headlight output is very sensitive to voltage changes, they will react to anything turning on and off that draws a large current.
Your car's battery will hold a charge at 12-13v but when the car is running the alternator keeps the voltage at 13.8v. If something turns on that draws a large current, the voltage will drop for a second and then the alternator's regulator will compensate and bring the voltage back up to 13.8v. Since headlight output is very sensitive to voltage changes, they will react to anything turning on and off that draws a large current.
paranoidxe
Member
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- Protege5 2002
Yeah I know flickering is normal to some extent, but the headlights were going near off and in some instances the car would bog.
Johnnybass
Member
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- Red '03 Mazda Protege 5 (auto)
paranoidxe said:
yeah, thats just bad...
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- 02.5 MP5
Maxx Mazda said:Once the battery is fully charged (this is important, run your car with no electrics on for like 10 mins to charge it up or else you can overfil lthe battery and you will get acid everywhere!) Anyways, make sure the car is on leverl ground, and grab a large flathead or philips screwdriver. Look on top of your battery, there should be 6 or so little screw in caps. Unscrew each cover, and just look in. Add distilled water (READ - NOT mineral water) to each cell until full. Repalce caps and you're good to go. That should help extend the battery life another year or so for you.
Hope that helps!
wow great lil write up here, because i have a stereo and it seems as if it is happening more, i was going to get a bigger battery but might try this to hold me over. mine just dimm every time the bass hits, not sure y though i thought capacitor would help it out but i think the battery is going
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- 02.5 MP5
ummm i have a cap which is y i said i thought the capacitor would help... which again i restate i think it might be my battery....
