Hey I'm new, I just joined. Here's my problem. When floored, about 5 mph before the car will want to shift my headlights dim ALOT and then shift it shifts and they go back to normal. It does it from 1-2 and 2-3. It's consistent and has to be a WOT shift. Do those electric shift solenoids need that much juice? My alternator isn't weak. It's a 98 Cavalier 2.2 3 speed auto.

the 3 speed auto is a vacuum controlled transmission. as in it requires no electricity for the shift solenoids. could be a sign that the voltage regulator is on it's way out/ alternator rotor where the brushes ride is out of round somehow.



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I would pull the alternator, its very easy on an OHV anyhow. Id have it tested and see what the results are.

My alternator I wouldnt call "weak" either, but it cant jump any cars that I've tried it on. It runs the car just fine, but if I try to jump anything thats dead I have to charge that car for like 20 minutes before itll turn over. (other cars can do it in just a few seconds). My Sunfire never used to have this problem.


Could be the belt slipping, but that seems far fetched to me.


"A car just isn't a car without a little blood, sweat, and beers." -- Shadowfire

i would agree the alternator output is on it's way out. however, the alternator does produce much less output at that high of an rpm than in lower rpms.



87 Firebird
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