So I got some kinda problem.

[Maineiac]

SO

There I was driving to work at 0330 in the first big snow storm of the year following a fella down the highway when all of a sudden after tapping my breaks to slow down my lights go very dim. Now I'm not talking a little dim I'm talking brown oh shit my alternator just took a dump dim. So I continue my drive because well what are you going to do? After a min or so the belt starts squealing and slowly comes out of it and the lights go back to normal. It did this 4-5 times in a 30 mile drive.

All I have been able to think of is the alternator but I am dreading the hydboost unit.

Could the hydboost be shorting out causing the drag on the alt? Or is it more likely that the alt is shorting out? The truck has 135K on it but it seems a little bit early for an Alt?

Cheers
Maineiac

 

[Nickortizzle1035]

my grand cherokee did the same exact thing before the alternator went. I had to swap it out in my driveway in january. I thought my hands were going to freeze off.

 

[Morphyne]

Well. You live in Maine so I am going to giess that if it is the alternator its because of the extreme weather conditilns up there. Cost of living in the wild and wonderful north east.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I would also say alternator. Could also be a cell in the battery shorting out. If it were the hydro boost unit, I would think it would blow a fuse pulling that much current. Can you hear a whiney sound from the front of the engine?

 

[Gatafly]

Could the belt tensioner spring be weak? You said it started squealing then the lights came back on. It was during a big snow storm so it sounds like you may have gotten snow up there and maybe the belt started slipping a bunch from snow until it dried from slipping then came back to life. Just a thought.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Sounds to me like the belt tensioner is jacked up

 

[Maineiac]

Fellas,

Havent had a problem since so I am thinking it was the snow that caused it. I am keeping an eye on her but is still running like a champ. Hopefully It dosent become a normal thing it can't be good for it.

Maineiac

 

[Whitebeauty]

Why would u think it would b n e thing with your brakes. Load test the battery n the alternator. Dont wait for it to take a dump on u for waiting, n the middle of a sht storm. Cuz then your really gonna b hatin life... I have a used one I can sell ya that has been tested n has the receipt. If u find yourself needin one.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The HydraBoost's Hydraulic motor doesn't take that much energy to run, it was most likely something like the alternator icing up or the belt slipping over the pulley and not spinning the alternator enough. Though I will point out that if the lights dimmed, the battery may not be up to snuff anymore as the battery should have smoothed out any voltage drops (meaning the battery was probably running the car long enough to drain down while the alternator was not providing enough power.)

 

[Maineiac]

The battery is less than a year old Interstate, So I hope the battery is fine but I can have it checked out pretty cheap. I mentioned the hydboost system because the first time it did it I had just touched the breaks. I don't currently have the time to dig into it but I will take a look at it the first chance I get a moment in the garage. Who knows AAA might have some good looking tow truck drivers. :girl:

 

[ebg18t]

i had a similar issue on my other car in the snow. We discovered the ribs on the belt were wearing and the belt was stretching (more than the tensioner would compensate). The wet roads allowed the belt to slip just enough that charging/electrical power was lost. Hopefully for you it is as simple (i.e. cheap) as the belt.

 

[marutizhiyi]

I had to swap it out in my driveway in january.

 

[Sungod]

The reason your lights went dim when you stepped on the brakes is because your brake lights were drawing power.