OK here goes,

Stilo 04/1.2 aircon.

Picked this up last week fairly cheap and liked the test drive. Bought it off a mate and was warned that it had had its engine replaced (still 1.2) a while back due to it being cooked with no fluids.

Anyhow, here are the problems I need to sort.

All lights, headlights, tail-lights, brake lights and dash lights are flicking/strobing whilst the engine is running. If I stop the engine (ignition still on ), all the lights etc. stay on with no flickering.
This is really bad at this time of year due to me having to use the headlights to be able to see where i'm going but the lights are constantly strobing (rapidly) on and off.

OK, thats the symptoms which is leading me into 2 possibilities:-

1/ The alternator is somehow sending an intermittent charge to the battery terminals/electrical system. It seems as tho the regulated current is possibly earthing at the alternator ?
To test this, could I disconnect the charging lead from the alt, start the car on the battery, turn the lights on and see if the pulsing has stopped. If this does prove the pulsing has stopped then surely this would point to the alternator being the sole problem. I have checked it for charging, 12.4v not running and 14.8v when running.

2/ ok this is just an idea thinking along the lines of, if the pulsing to the electrical system is only happening when the engine is running then is it possible that the ignition circuit is breaking down and causing an intermittent earthing fault ?

The other thing that is noticeable is the engine is very difficult to control at low revs (around town, pulling away through the gear-box), it is kangarooing (is that a word), stuttering which I am sure is related to the pulsing of the lighting system.

I have had a check thru the guide for help but not been able to find a answer. tho I have found some helpful tips on other things that need to be sorted.

Any help or info will be greatly accepted.

PS, It will be this Fri affy when I will be getting my head under the bonnet. Till then I will still be using it for work.

Cheers for looking, Boo.

Flickering sounds like alternator regulator failing.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Flickering sounds like alternator regulator failing.

Click to expand...

My thoughts too M.E.P. Is there a connection at the battery + post I can disconnect to eliminate the alternator rather than crawling underneath to disconnect the charging wire ?

Not that I'm aware of unfortunately

id be looking at an earthing fault somewhere as well, as you suggested. Does seem alternator/earthing related. as the engine has been replaced, I wonder if they missed an earth strap somewhere? to test, you could just fit one or two anyway, to see if it eliminates the problem.

OK time for an update,


I firstly checked all the earthing points and all are in place and good.

I then turned to the alternator and did some readings to the battery,


Test 1/ with engine running (no lights on), the voltage is fluctuating from 14.6v to 15.6v, the fluctuating is changing at the same pulsing rate as the engine (800/700rpm)?

Test 2/ same as above but with all lights on, no difference to voltage/pulsing.

Test 3/ same as above but with blower on full, rear demister on and high-beam on, I now have no pulsing and engine running smooth. So I checked the voltage charge and it's dropping from 13.5-13.4-13.3........ and so on.
Obviously no charge from alternator !

I then checked to see what was going on with the belt and noticed with normal running (pulsing lights and engine) the jockey/tensioner wheel is moving left-right at the same pace as the pulsing.

Now with the heavy load on the electrical system (everything on) the wheel is spinning still. At this point it was obvious that the alternator was no longer turning (due to the heavy demand) and subsequently not sending a charge to the battery.

Conclusion = Alternator fecked. (M.E.P. )

I have posted in the wanted section for a replacement, the car doesn't warrant the cost of a new one so if a used one don't come round is a re-con a good choice and where would be best to get one. (or are new ones cheap?).

PS, the alternator is for a aircon model, the aircon is actually not working (pipes disconnected), would yhis cause a problem ?

Thanks for your help, Boo.

Update 2

changed the alternator for a re-con.

ALL FIXED YEAH.

thanks to all for help/info, cheers Boo.

Only posted to say I liked the title of the thread.

"electrickery", sort of sums up the Stilo's electric's in one word ..