Calling all car people ...

Ya I'll get it checked out when I get back to the states on Monday. I actually don't think the alternator is too difficult to replace on my car. It's right on top and you see it every time you open the hood.

I took the car into the Subaru dealer and they checked the alternator and said it was fine. Using my radar detector I checked the voltage at the cigarette lighter and it usually stayed between 10.7 and 11.3 volts. However it jumped around between 10.5 and 12.5. This seems pretty low for a system that is supposed to be at 12 volts. Last year I had a battery go bad due to a loose terminal connection so I replaced it with a top of the line battery. I have heard that a battery going bad cause cause damage to an alternator. I also checked all the grounds and terminal connections and they are clean and secure. I'm at a loss as to what the true problem is. All the evidence points towards the alternator brushes or voltage regulator but the dealership said the alternator checked out. Anybody have any ideas?

UPDATE: I was just out driving around and the voltage was between 13.2 and 14.2 which seems more normal to me. However my lights were still flickering. Another note: the lights do not flicker when running off of the battery when the car is off.

voltage regulator???

thats in the alternator case....but they may have not have checked that???

Have you by any chance put a new sound system in your car?Like amps, subs and such?

i do believe thad be the voltage reg

Ya, I knew the voltage regulator was in the alternator case in my car. I assumed that they would check that while checking the alternator since its internal.

The problem with my radar detector indicating low voltage has become increasingly common so I figure it is something that needs to be taken care of. Plus the flickering lights are very annoying.

Sorry about my slow replies. I am checking this from my non-3G phone. I have done some mild upgrades such as a laser jammer in the grill and a hardwired radar detector. However these are very low current devices. I am interested in a new stereo but won't consider it till these issues are sorted out.

Take all of the after market stuff out and see if the still do it. You're problem shooting so start with easy stuff (stuff you installed.)

When i had my cavalier i had the same issue but it was because i had a system and everything it was on it would dim the lights and everything else cause i didn't have a capacitor. my civic had the same problem you stated. except all the lights would blink and go dead and then come back on and then my speedo wouldnt work, changed alternator still nothing changed battery still nothign took apart all of my dash and put it back together and worked liek a charm lol. maybe a loose wire hidden somewhere. i'd say check the wires in the dash somewhere maybe there is a bare wire that crossed with something else, but definately sounds like an electrical problem if your alternator & batt is good.