Hi I hope you can help me. Here is the story. A few days ago I tried to start my car but when I turned the ignition nothing happened no clicks nothing. I did notice that only the oil and battery lights were on not the park light and when I turned the ignition all went off. I thought the battery was flat but it turned out to be fine after getting it tested. I put it back but still had the same problem so I called a mechanic who said he would come by the next day. I gave it another try before he came round and it started hmm. He took the car anyway and said he could find no fault.
I have since noticed that my headlights are a lot dimmer than they used to be and the wipers seem slow as well, in fact so is the air conditioner fan. Also noted that on first start up the rev counter jumps and revving the engine seems to make the lights and fans lose a little power for a moment. The mechanic and I are stumped and I am scared it s going to die when I’m away from home. The car is a 94 model Opel Kaddet carbureted version. It is mechanically in a good condition other than this strange electrical fault. I really hope you have an idea about what could cause this. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Hi there
My gut feeling says you probably have a bad connection at the battery, so check and clean the battery cables very good. You should not be able to move the battery cables on the battery with your bare hands. Sometimes corrosion builds up on the inside the cable, so you might have to take the cables off the battery to properly clean them.
Usually when the headlights go completely out when you turn the key to the start position it is because of a bad battery or a loose connection to the battery. If the lights are bright, but then dim as you turn the key, that is usually a bad starter motor issue, if the lights are bright and stay bright that is usually a security system or broken wiring somewhere kind of problem. You fit the bad battery/loose connection category.
Now, you MIGHT also have a charging issue with the alternator of the voltage regulator. Most U.S cars have the voltage regulator inside the alternator, so you just replace the alternator assembly. I am not familiar with your vehicle, so you will have to ask if the voltage regulator is internal or external of the alternator.
A weak or bad voltage regulator will usually produce the symptoms you describe with the slowness of wipers and dimming of headlights. The number one culprit of an alternator/voltage regulator is a bad battery, which causes the alternator to work twice as hard to keep the battery fully charged.
Blessings,
Austin Davis