hey everyone thanks for reading this post, im new to s2ki, just picked up my first 02 grand prix white with full red interior... and well its actually still at the dealership... im about to sign the paper work this weekend. Already payed the down payment. However there is one problem that i've noticed so far with this vehicle. After a short test drive, and the car only ran for about 10 minutes... i noticed the lights in the gauge cluster fluctating... as if it was having a power problem... they were diming in and out... now im not sure if it was because the car has been sitting at the dealership for about two weeks.... or if there's a problem with the alternator. because when i did test drive it the temperature was past the cold... so i figured the car had been warmed up already, but the battery might have not been charged all the way?? i'm not really sure but i know the lights in the cluster should not dim in and out??? any advice?? thanks.

 

Car shouldn't be running on the battery after it starts up. So I don't think the battery is the problem.

The alternator being bad would show up in other ways too, so I wouldn't look there first.

Could be a problem with the cluster, a lose wire somewhere or something else all together. I'd ask the dealer to look at it and wouldn't accept the car unless they fix it.

Is the car certified? If it is then it should be covered.

 

well i dont think the car is certified. yeah they said the battery just needs recharging or something along the lines, but like you mentioned the car does not run on the battery after it is started. So it flickering in and out just wouldnt make sense. MY friend with an s2k said it might be a "Voltage Regulator", any responses on that opinion Please??? Thanks!

 

The voltage regulator might do something like this, but I'm pretty sure that wou;d show in other ways too (radio acting up or something).

I've not run into this, on an S, before. But I'd still be of the mind to make this a sticking point with the dealer.

Especially if it's a Honda dealer. Also, if it is a Honda dealer, find out why they won't certify it.

 

yeah well its at an infinity dealership so thats why its not certified. it was a customer trade in... any advice... could it be the alternator is crappy?? bump.

 

BUMP

 

Turn the other lights on in the car and see if they fade in and out. If not (and I bet not) then my guess is something is wrong with the instrument cluster. It's possible you could fix it yourself by changing the cluster but that's not a real easy job and will cost several hundred dollars to have a shop do it, even if you buy a used cluster.

Bear in mind if it was something easy to fix they would have fixed it rather than have to explain it to every customer that looks at the car. The fact that they are blaming it on the battery seems like they are hiding something (or they're just idiots).

 

yeah the headlights dont dim, just the gauge cluster itself... so would you probably lean towards not buying a car if the gauge cluster has issues... because who knows what the problem could be you know?

 

well the dealer said that they fixed the problem, and it was a faulty alternator... although i have not found out yet how they "fixed it".... can alternators be recharged??

 

No, replaced or rewound (replace would be cheaper).

Still not sure how that would cause the dash to flicker and not the headlights.

I'd test drive it again but, this time, I'd test drive it to a honda dealer and ask them to check the car over.

Also, take them the VIN number (if not the whole car) and ask them to look up the records for the vehicle.