Pulsating lights on 1.7DTi (2000)

[Jason Mann]

Hi folks.

I own an Astra 1.7 DTi (X/2000) and it has recently developed a minor issue.

When I start the car from cold and let it idle, all the electric lights in
the car, including the headlights and dash backlights pulsate in brightness
slightly, accompanied by a slight variation in the pitch of the engine
noise. The tachometer needle also moves very slightly in time with the
pulsating.

As I increase the revs, the pulsating also increases in speed, and then
disappears at around 2000 rpm.

This problem also occured about 3 years ago, also in winter, but the car was
owned by my employer at the time so I just had fleet services take it away
and it came back fixed without me knowing too much about what was done.

I suspect the problem lies with the alternator, or as someone else
suggested, with the voltage regulator.

Has anyone else experienced similar, and can say with some certainty what
the problem is? What would it take to fix it myself?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Jason

(Please do not reply by email. False address used.)

 

[Gordon]

Had exactly the same happen to me as stated in an earlier post. The
problem
lies with the alternator. I had to change mine for a reconditioned one and
`hey presto` problem dissapeared.......G.


PS Price for exchange alternator £125.50 inc vat with 2yr warantee.

 

[Mr Me]

That model Astra has electric power steering which used to cause my Astra to
do the same, also when the Air Con pump kicks in you will see your lights
and rev counter dip when the engine is just idling.

Maybe another test is in the dark start the car put the headlights on, and
then watching the headlights, switch the rear window de-mister one which
uses a lot of power and see if the headlights dim.

I had a annoying problem with my 2001 (51) reg astra that used to shudder at
1500rpm, which was 30mph in 4th, every time I accelerated from 30mph the car
would shudder and then pull away nicely?

Rich