All Lights Flicker Brighter

[Guest humbug]

Hi all, I have 2006 C3 petrol desire, my prob. is that all the lights flicker more brightly every 4 or 5 seconds.

 

This is disconserting when driving in dimmer areas as people tend to flash their lights back!

 

If I reverse into my garage and keep it in reverse it,s really noticable, the increase in brightness is amazing.

 

Ive put a volt tester in the cig. socket & the increase is 2-3 volts from the normal 13v. charging.

 

A new alternator was fitted just over a year ago when I bought the car, this prob. started appearing very gradually after 2 or 3 months.

 

Along with this, at the same time as the flicker, the engine "misses a beat", thats the only way I can describe it.

 

I,ve had it back to the local dealers(evans halshaw), several times who cannot solve it. They did put some new spark plugs in

 

tho. ?? did a diagnostic, charged me £116 for the priveledge & it was no different.

 

They said that no fault codes came up on the diag. & seemed reluctant to admit there even was/is a fault.

 

It seems that "until it gets worse & a code comes up were at a loss to know what to do"

 

As well as the plugs, a new coms unit, temp. sensor & coil block have been fitted.

 

I am an ex mechanic of the old school in the plugs & points era & do all my own servicing so I know how things work

 

or should work, but has me & the dealers beat! Can any kind soul help before I get pulled in for flashing a patrol car?!

 

Regards to you all (Pete) aka James dad.

 

P.S. a great forum.

[paul.h]

Could be a faulty alternator, nothing else that I can think of will increase the voltage above battery voltage. Also check the battery connections but likely if loose, the voltage would drop.