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hit a bump - all lights flicker and go dim

scrappyk5

scrappyk5

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Mar 17, 2002
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Sometimes when I hit a bump, all my lights go real dim and flicker in and out, then I after few seconds or when I hit another bump, they will go back normal. Also the volt guage drops when this happens.
Where should I Start looking for the problem ?
Oh, this is on my 1978 stepside.
thanks
 
That sounds like a bad ground, but I couldn't be certain which one. Based on the voltage drop, I would say that it would be the main ground from battery to block. Since the alternator grounds through the block, and all the lights have the ground carry back through to the block. Just a suggestion though.
 
thanks,
I figured with everything going dim and flickering , it would be maybe easier to track.
I had put a new alt in it week ago thinking the prob was in that, but it wasnt.
I will check the cables at the block and battery.
 
Don't forget that the cables rot from the inside out, so if the ground or positive is not new, it is well worth it to replace them.
 
This happened to me,

I had a radar detector installed and back when i was in high school.

The guy tapped into my fuse box with a brass tap in and spread the contact metal around the fuse.

Over time the fuse became loose and my truck s battery would not charge

493882.jpg


Fustpr.gif


garbage
 
Also, make sure your battery is secure. Properly secured. Batteries dancing freely around underhood is never a good thing.
 
All of the above mention reasons are viable, but I had the EXACT same thing happen waaaaay back in high school on a '77 c10. The positive cable had rubbed through on the frame rail and was contacting it at times. I finally fount it when it welded itself to the frame and killed my battery.
 
On top of what everyone mentioned , do yourself a favor and remove the bezel , cluster , and lamps , clean the thing and put the lamps back in the sockets and attach them back on tight . Then get some contact cleaner and clean your switch . If your gonna do it , do it all up .

I had very little light that worked and went away , took it all out if the K5 ( to go into the truggy ) and after a little cleaning , and making things plugged in tight , its all bright as hell .

But do all the grounds and cables as well as everyone mentioned too :thumb:
 
Mine did the same thing. I replaced two grounding straps. The ground from the cab to the frame was broken and from the block to the frame was corroded.
 
I put headers on my truck and while I was down there, I found that the cable was hitting the frame in one little spot, barely noticible, but enough for when I would hit a bump, it would ground out. problem fixed :D
thanks,
 
So it was the positive cable grounding out then? Glad you found it, and I hope you went through all the grounds anyway.:wink1:
 
nocoasthardcore said:
Also, make sure your battery is secure. Properly secured. Batteries dancing freely around underhood is never a good thing.
Click to expand...

i didn't realize it but my battery was jumping up and the positive terminal wore away the paint on the hood then I hit a big bump and the battery jumped and wedged itself against the hood causing me to lose all power and frying the battery... :doah:
 
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