e36 lights pulsing why?

[ric325i]

just got a cheap run around and the lights are pulsing?

everything electric seems to fluctuate. checked the main earth and its fine.

does anyone have an idea why this would happen?

cheers

[78dude]

Do they pulse all the time?

[dickster]

Sounds like it could be the alternator or more specifically the regulator. Is it more noticeable when you rev the engine?

[ric325i]

Sounds like it could be the alternator or more specifically the regulator. Is it more noticeable when you rev the engine?

not really but it is all the time.

i got told the alternator was dodgy but its putting charge in the batery so i thought it was doing its jobn right.

im guessing the regulator is in the alternator? hum?

[dickster]

What figures did you come up with when checking the charge rate and how did you check it? if you were told it was dodgy but its still putting in a charge it may be that its not putting in enough charge-find out what the charge rate was.

The regulator normally has usually a couple of screws holding it in, being in a BMW E36 it probably says Bosch on it and is probably black plastic, usually got a round bit about the size of a 2p coin with bits either side to screw it to the alternator body. My old 320i E30 still charged alright but the lights pulsed, to be honest I never did anything about it because it was only a weekend car and didn't bother me too much as it was still charging the battery.

Once you know what the charge rate is I can advise further, if it was below a normal rate then you'd probably be best off getting a re-con alternator off the shelf that has a one year warranty, if the charge rate was acceptable then you may be lucky and get away with a regulator. Fitting a new regulator won't make the alternator as good as new again as the brushes/bushes/bearings etc haven't been touched.

cheers

[J1mmys]

Mine does that but only when i turn the hifi up full but its because a havea 1000watt rms mono amp and sub hahaha

[murran]

Mine does that but only when i turn the hifi up full but its because a havea 1000watt rms mono amp and sub hahaha

thats cus the alternator isnt putting up with the amount of needless drain on it. bigger battery and higher output alternator is what you need if you want to continue to pollute the world with noise..........

if the lights are plusing then yes the regulator/rectifier pack (the bit that uses 3 diodes to turn the ac the alternator produces into dc the battery needs is going faulty......... may pack up fully (and stop charging), tomorrow or in six months but it will happen soon!

[328i-sport-rossi]

Hi mate.
It sounds like the alternator most probably is on its last legs,mine did this when i first got it,changed the alternator and all was fine,its your best bet.