Hello, I have a problem. When I drive my truck at night I have noticed that when I am stopped my headlights dim, and my voltage goes down. When I put my foot on the gas my headlights get brighter and the voltage goes back to where it should be...Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Peter

 

My guess is the alternator isn't putting out the correct voltage. Maybe the voltage regulator in the alternator is faulty? Is the charge light on in the dash? If it is, it would mean the alternator isn't putting out anything. Do any other lights flash on/off randomly?

 

no lights show up on the dash, and the headlights are the only thing i see fade, usually when i am behind someone when i can see the lights reflecting back to me. When i step on the gas i can see the lights get brighter. the voltage gauge do drop down some when i come to a stop, then moves back around where it should be.

 

Could also be a bad battery. I don't know the RPM to current output for the alternator? How many amps can this alternator put out at 650RPM?

 

The batteries in all the 470s I've owned have died w/in 5 years, so if you are still on the factory battery in your 2000, then my bet would be a bad battery. That's a cheap place to start (& if it's 8 yrs old it needs replacing anyway...

 

I just put a new battery in my truck a few months ago, new interstate battery.