I have a impreza turbo 2000 (1996) and all the lights including dashlights, headlights and even Brake lights all flicker together. sometimes the battery warning light flickers on as the otherlights dim. I am led to believe that this is due to the alternator breaking down. however could it just be a case of tweaking the idle up slightly?

I have measured the battery voltage while engine is at idle and it jumps from 13 - 12 volts as it dims every other second.

If anyone can help that would be great as i dont want to buy an altornator to find it wasnt needed.

cheers Pete

 

connection?? new battery?

 

cheers for the reply curtis
the battery is holding charge well so i have illiminated that. connections are clean and secure. i bought the car couple of weeks ago and had no problems but i havent driven it at night till today lol
what is the impreza meant to idle at?

 

when engine is running you should see 13>14 volts at the battery. i'd say alternator. might be worth checking all earth connections and cleaning them up. Also clean the alternator connections and measure voltage again when done

 

ok i will try this tomorrow and let you no how it goes. i assumed that aslong as the battery stays consistantly above 12 volts it would be a reliable power supply for a 12v dc circuit.

 

I have checked and cleaned all connections and earths.
The voltage is still dropping around 13-12 volts.
Spoke to halfords today to find that a new alternator is £247 (£207 on trade)
Does Anyone no where i can get one from that isnt made of gold and platinum lol

 

idle at about 900-1100.

 

Thanks again curtis, mine idles around 950.

 

Tried e-bay?

Halfords aren't known as Hell-Frauds for nowt.

 

Hell-frauds lol.
Is anybody breaking an impreza for spares in the shropshire area?
Sorry for the silly questions lol i am new to your website. I love my cars and bikes as i ride a ZX9R. I have just turned 21 so my insurance has come down so i sold my escort rs turbo which i rebuilt and treated myself to impreza knowing very little about them so you guys are my haynes manual lol
cheers for being so helpful folks

 

Loads being broken in the for sale section.

One for example.

 

nice one for that micky, didnt realise this was on here.

okay my other problem is water leaking into my boot, i thought it was the spoiler leaking so i sealed it with silicon but it still leaked so at the car wash i locked my mate in the boot with a torch lol and he got very wet indeed! but claims it was leaking through the rear lights. is this common or am i just the lucky one????

 

dunno mate never had a problem with water geting in the boot of mine perhaps your just unlucky.

 

Very common, especially if the lights have ever been removed. Mine leaks, still....

You need some non setting sealant to sort it. If there's a caravan place near to you, that's your best place to get some.

You want Carafax or similar.

Whilst you're on, get yourself something like this to get the water out.

 

or it could be your boot rubber

 

Problem solved.
The idle was at 790 - 820. upped it to 900-920 and no more lights flickering.
The leak in the boot was as mickywrx said bad seal around the rear lights.

Thank u all for the help

 

An alternator should charge between 12.8 and 13.4 volts anything below this or if only just in the band at the bottom scale its undercharging above its overcharging. Also if the battery is screwed then it can give false readings. Do a load test on the battery engine off but all lights on for 60 seconds this removes any float voltage that may show then check the battery with a voltage meter, anything below 12 and the battery could also be a issue, then again the battery will be low without the alternator putting charge in so you need to be very carefull when diagnosing

 

Problem with flashing lights returned!!!!! Ignored it for a week or to lol
But now sorted by changing the alternator!

Turns out turning the idle up was just making up for the alternator breaking down.