Martin

Lately I have noticed that the Voltage Gauge needle and temp gauge needle occasionally 'flicks' quickly back and forth in-sync, the voltage only moves about half a volt at most, the temp needle can flick up to and over half on the guage. Seems to do it more so the warmer the outside temp.



Any ideas?

Oh and another thing, the voltage can 'flick' back and forth from as soon as you start it, but it isnt till the car is warmed up that the temp needle starts flicking....

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1993 ED XR6 M5 (1 of 329)
Polynesian Green
Turbo on the way!!
1993 EBII Fairmont (Now wrecking, PM if you want any parts)
1988 Nissan R31 Skyline

TopGhia

After you start it, put a digital voltmeter on the battery and see if the alternator is outputting a steady 14 (or so) volts. If the voltmeter "flicks" in time with the gauge, you have alternator problems. If the output is steady, check your earth wires.

If they flick in sync, it probably is a faulty earth somewhere.

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the_scotsman

Something very similar to this happened to me a while back. It was because I had got water in the electrics somewhere under the bonnet...I had been cleaning in the engine bay.
Probably not the same thing here though.
This does sound like a faulty earth connection somewhere though.

Just a thought.

KDog

I would say that the earth lead for the engine block has come loose at the engine. Its fairly common and can cause other problems.

You can find it by tracing it from the battery to where it connects to the block. If it's loose you should be able to turn it by hand. I have known of two cars that I have fixed by tightning this bolt by hand! This was after they had been to more than one autoelect and mechanics.