Flickering lights

[charbles]

My lights seem to get brighter and dimmer all the time depending on how the engine is running. Does this mean there's a problem in the electrics? Wouldn't be the first time, I guess.
Mike

[Begle1]

Are they a quick flicker or do they sort of dim-bright over a 4 second period?

Does it do this only when it's cold?

Does your ammeter droop when your lights dim?

[hummin cummins]

sounds like the grid plates running... begle1 i think had the same idea... if it doesnt do what begle asked then you might have some problems

[dpuckett]

If it is a fast flicker, it is likely your voltage regulator.

Daniel

[charbles]

Yeah, It's mostly when cold, the ammeter drops... AND it flickers, but also alternates every 4 seconds. It's not a serious problem right now, but I didn't want it to leave me lightless on a dark night . Are the grids supposed to be running after the engine is on? Thanks,
Mike

[Begle1]

If you look at your engine, there are two little 4-inch squares stacked on top of each other that the intake horn mounts into. Each one is a ~1200 watt heater element. Below 60 degrees they engage for a few seconds before you start your engine (that's what's happening when the "Wait-to-Start" light is on), and then they'll continue to cycle until either the engine is warm or you reach a pre-programmed speed (I've heard both 25 and 30 MPH as shut-off points). They heat the air going into the engine so that is starts better and doesn't make massive amounts of blue-white smoke until you warm up.

The grids are pretty indestructible and are over 500 times more effective and trouble-free than glowplugs. Only warning I've ever heard with regards to them is to not operate an aftermarket radio head unit while they're cycling, and to not spray ether into the intake lest it explode. Other than that the voltage drop doesn't seem to hurt anything.

[Begle1]

If it is a fast flicker, it is likely your voltage regulator.

Daniel

When my voltage regulator went out my headlights disintegrated instantly. They were Silverstars though, so maybe they were more sensitive to the 40+ volts I was running...

The brights worked great though. Pity for the guys in front of me...

[JLeonard]

I noticed mine flickwering last night....just barely detectable via the instrument lights.
Seemed fine this morning.
Guess the regulator is taking a slight turn south.

[Begle1]

In my opinion it is mandatory to carry an extra voltage regulator with you at all times in these trucks.

I actually wouldn't mind wiring two in series if there was a system to tell if one was bad. You could wire an LED after the first regulator; put a couple of resistors on the LED so it doesn't light until it gets above 18 volts or so. But if the second regulator went bad, I don't know how you could detect it. Maybe there's some sort of sinusoidal fluctuations off of a properly-functioning regulator that you could detect with the right circuit...

[charger 69]

I thought the computer did the voltage regulating ??

[TWorline]

I thought the computer did the voltage regulating ??

On your '92 the regulator is in your computer. The early models up to '92(somebody correct me on this if I am wrong) had an external voltage regulator like the corporate regulator Ma Mopar started using back in '70.