milty60 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 My sons dash gauges are bouncing up and down, dash idiot lights flashing off and on car occasional surges or hesitates. I've experienced this multiple times on my cars and my parents. Its always been a bad alternator. I'm assuming same for this Subaru. Tried to drive it home last night no lights on or heater fan, only emergency lights. Made it half way home - battery fully drained. Brought battery home - charged it - just picked up alternator. Heading out to do the install. Hopefully past experience is dead on. Belt is tight, battery year old, all cables clean and tight. Hope a separate regulator is not hiding somewhere - don't know if its internal to alt. Thoughts? Advice? Milty 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montana tom Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Regulator is built in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Alternator most likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 steering felt OK? mostly likely alt. You could get the original rebuilt locally if you can do without the car for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike104 Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 Auto parts store alternators are not that good. A used Subaru one is often better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 If not alternator, then it is the battery. I had a car years ago with same problems as yours, dash lights and gauges were going crazy nuts. Turned out to be a bad cell in the battery. Car would still start, but run like crap, because of low voltage to the car computer. Replaced the battery, an that cleared up the problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milty60 Posted February 5, 2018 Author Share Posted February 5, 2018 Thanks for all the info - I replaced the alt - all is good ...Milty 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdkneppy Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 My 83 Brat is running again after salvage yard engine installed & now a new problem surfaced. Dash lights for high AT oil temp, brake fluid, brake light out & low voltage are on very dim while running, but none of those items are an issue. Could this be related to alternator or battery going out? Battery always starts the car so alternator must be working too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el_freddo Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 It’s the alternator. If you raise the revs and they go out that’s a clear indication that it’s the alternator. It also means your alternator isn’t properly charging the battery at idle. My mother inlaw’s brumby does the same thing, but you can only see these lights in the dark without any illumination lights on. Cheers Bennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdkneppy Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 (edited) On 4/16/2019 at 4:18 PM, el_freddo said: It’s the alternator. If you raise the revs and they go out that’s a clear indication that it’s the alternator. It also means your alternator isn’t properly charging the battery at idle. Cheers Bennie Rebuilt alternator installed today and problem solved. Now for turn signal fix, blinking faster than they should. Bulbs all good, but I can't even see the flasher unit up inside the dash. Thanks to all! John Edited May 21, 2019 by jdkneppy Correction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 did someone install an LED light? that's 'hyper flashing' needs a resistor to simulate the impedance of an incandescent bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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