'95 EX Surging/Dimming Lights
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
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'95 EX Surging/Dimming Lights
I have a '95 EX that runs fine. Sometimes when it is cold and just started up, the headlights and interior lights and tachometer will surge up and down about once a second. You can see the headliights, radio and dash lights brighten and dim, brighten and dim, brighten and dim. The Tach will go up about 500 rpms and down about 500 rpms, up 500... The peak rpms coincides with the peak brightness of the headlights and interior lights. Usually only happens during winter/cold weather and then only when first started for that day and always intermittently. It may go a month between episodes and it may go a week. After the car is run and shut down it will not do it on the restart that day. It's like whatever it is, once it gets warm, it works fine. It's been happening for the past 3 years (generally only when outside temp goes below freezing) but is starting to happen more frequently. Any ideas?
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
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the cold weather is harder on electrical parts. so in the winter its normal for the battery to take some time to start the car.. the starter hogs alot of juice to start the car.. the voltage regulator can get dicey in the winter time. check your connections to the alt. battery and starter. i have the same issues u do for yrs. mine is a 92. i have the original alternator but i got a yellow top optima battery and it has helped alot. if the alternator is bad u can check it by starting the car, let it run and touch it. if its hot its probably bad.
the cold makes metal constrict so starters will be harder to engage. in the summer the main relay does the opposite. the contacts swell and the car wont start the fuel pump.
other causes of fairly instant no starts in the winter are worn out rotor buttons and spark plugs. in the summer time electrical related parts will linger a slow death. u dont really notice it. when the cold weather hits these parts go bad quickly.
the cold makes metal constrict so starters will be harder to engage. in the summer the main relay does the opposite. the contacts swell and the car wont start the fuel pump.
other causes of fairly instant no starts in the winter are worn out rotor buttons and spark plugs. in the summer time electrical related parts will linger a slow death. u dont really notice it. when the cold weather hits these parts go bad quickly.