Electrical problem - bright light, bright light

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,787 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 24 Apr 2010, 11:03 am

#774818

Something happened last night while driving
Sitting at a stop sign behind anothe car and all of a sudden i though "damn - my head lights are bright. Wonder is i have the driving lights on or high beam??"

Nope, but when i checked the swithch for the driving lights, i noticed the emergency hazard switch, that normally glows dull was really bright as well.

Then it slowly died down and settled.

My car has an internal regulated alternator.
Mine died last year and i am getting mine rebuilt
Have borrowed on for the moment (well - a few months)

Any ideas what it could be??

I can only think it is regulator??

Occasionally i notice my lights "flicker" at idle.
But it has always done this - ie both alternators

Futue te ipsum!!!

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 · 24 Apr 2010, 12:01 pm

#774822

UFO maybe😂

69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 24 Apr 2010, 2:01 pm

#774838

yes a regulator can over charge upto 18volts +.
not only does that give you good lights it also burns out electronic ignitions.🥲

😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

ancientbugger Custom Title Time!

1,986 posts · joined Mar 2004 · 25 Apr 2010, 8:47 pm

#775080

A while back I had a similar situation in my cabriolet and after a few months of trying to ignore it I eventually tracked it down to a loose battery connection. With mine the wipers worked better as well🤪

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 26 Apr 2010, 12:08 am

#775128

Bizarre wrote:Something happened last night while driving
Sitting at a stop sign behind anothe car and all of a sudden i though "damn - my head lights are bright. Wonder is i have the driving lights on or high beam??"

Nope, but when i checked the swithch for the driving lights, i noticed the emergency hazard switch, that normally glows dull was really bright as well.

Then it slowly died down and settled.

My car has an internal regulated alternator.
Mine died last year and i am getting mine rebuilt
Have borrowed on for the moment (well - a few months)

Any ideas what it could be??

I can only think it is regulator??

Occasionally i notice my lights "flicker" at idle.
But it has always done this - ie both alternators

Yes the internal regulator is breaking down allowing the High AC Voltage into the system....
This AC voltage will not charge your battery [DC] but can blow things due to overvoltage..

better change alternators again....

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 26 Apr 2010, 12:11 am

#775129

another thing that can cause lights to flicker etc
is Not having an earth strap on Your gearbox..

but this will NOT make lights go very bright etc...
just flicker...

LEE

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- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

ratty 63 Custom Title Time!

1,083 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 26 Apr 2010, 5:47 pm

#775223

I had a regulator (internal) die in my '93 Suzuki swift - was putting around 28 volts into the battery (battery wasn't too happy about it either judging by the smell it gave off). Had the brightest headlights I had ever seen on a car - but the bulbs only had a half-hour lifespan! 😀 Dashboard lighting was blinding too!

Check your earth straps (gearbox to chassis and battery to chassis) - if they are clean and tight then I would be inclined to point the finger at the reg on your alternator....

Let us know how you get on....

R 🙂

40hp, 6V and ...er... slowly making improvements 😂

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Founding member of the Gold Coast Dub Club Inc. 🙂

XXX-1.8T Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,113 posts · joined Oct 2002 · 28 Apr 2010, 11:39 am

#775506

putting around in traffic my lights are mid brightness but when im on the highway doing 60mph+ the interior and headlights really brighten up.

Is this normal and what would be the cause of this?