Electrical Ghosts?

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Oct 24, 2012 | 09:50 AM

UBERNOOB

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Electrical Ghosts?

Hey all. Very strange issue with my 99 B5 1.8T/AEB- under WOT i get random dash warning lights that flicker for a second. Does not happen any other time even over bumps/rough road. No codes. No power/voltage issues. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Oct 24, 2012 | 01:45 PM

mtroxel

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Stop the WOT first of all. I had a girlfriend's Volvo turb....did the same thing. Turned out the T-belt tensioner had gone limp and at WOT the cam timing was off enough that it started throwing all sorts of codes related to timing.

Oct 24, 2012 | 01:55 PM

ddillenger

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I know you said there are no voltage issues, but quite frankly I don't think you know what you're looking for (just because the car starts and runs and the gauge reads normal doesn't mean that the regulator isn't failing internally). Have a shop do a load test on the alternator, and battery.

When you say WOT, do you mean at ANY rpm, or just the higher RPM? Say if you go WOT at 1500rpm does the issue present itself?

Oct 26, 2012 | 10:17 AM

UBERNOOB

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ddillenger

Thanks for the input. Car has new battery and alternator/voltage regulator. No codes so I'm assuming that everything is in spec. I did replace the original 90 Amp alternator with a 120 Amp. Wondering if this could this cause issues?

Oct 26, 2012 | 10:22 AM

UBERNOOB

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And it usually occurs at lower RPMs- i.e. highway cruising at 60mph in 5th and then full throttle- lights flicker right away then go out. Does not seem to occur under WOT when accelerating from first gear through the RPM range.