Ok, any help with a suggestion to this odd behavior, would be appreciated. In park everything is fine with the electrical however once in gear, the lights dim once in awhile and the battery meter is going up and down even hitting 9 volts. Autozone says there is no problem because they are testing the vehicle while in park. So, does it sound llike an alternator problem or a *voltage regulator* (don't know if there is such a thing)? Maybe the battery? The battery is only a few months old. Thanks for anyones help.

 

There is a voltage regulator, but it is built into the alternator (as is the case in many vehicles). It sounds like an alternator problem - not able to keep up with the additional load once the engine is in gear... just my 2 cents though - wait for someone else to chime in.

Cheers.

 

This sorta sounds like my issue as well. It is fine in park, for the most part after startup, but dies under small load. If I am at speed it is fine, but at a stop light, it dies. To add insult to injury, I have a short somewhere, so my battery is dead in the morning. Could the voltage regulator also cause a battery drain

Lovejoy

 

bump bump ... anyone have any more feed back?

 

you can test your battery with a multimeter so that you can know for sure that it is not the battery. Check your Terminals also maybe lose or have corrosion on them.

 

i have the reverse problem i am spiking to 16 volts i am gonna chane my altternator very soon i got one that is currently being rebuilt.

def sounds like an alt problem either that or a bad cell in yoru battery

 

Given your battery is a few months old and you have a '97, sounds like an alternator problem. There is an alternator recall out for '97 and early '98 Max's

 

hmmm 16volts, I'm suprised your ECU hasn't fried yet.

 

your not the only one to tell me that

 

ok guys. thanks for the info! new alternator is the way to go now.

 

Hey If you're planning on installing it yourself use this helpful guide:

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/500

 

ok. thanks bud.