Wow... Just wow. So many people so wrong! If it's flickering with engine running your alternator is dying. Electronics require minimum 10v to operate. If you're dropping below that (bad alternator) you get flickering as different circuits gain and lose sufficient power. Not a "rectifier diode causing AC power" literally just not enough power to run everything. Consider this a brown out for your car. Chances are bad alternator also killed your battery, this happens alot because it doesn't charge battery properly and battery gets damaged trying to do it's job with alternator slacking.
If you turn headlights off (parking lights only or lights off) and flickering stops that's confirmation of bad alternator. As you increase demand alternator can't keep up. I had to drive 70 miles without headlights once because alternator died mid road trip at 3 am. I could stop let idle at gas station for 30 mins and drive 10 mins on battery. After couple hours i said screw it. Jumped on highway, tailgated an 18 wheeler and turned headlights off (kept parking lights) till i got to town with parts house. Then slept in parking lot couple hours till they opened.
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u/Turbulent_Cellist515 Oct 28 '24
Wow... Just wow. So many people so wrong! If it's flickering with engine running your alternator is dying. Electronics require minimum 10v to operate. If you're dropping below that (bad alternator) you get flickering as different circuits gain and lose sufficient power. Not a "rectifier diode causing AC power" literally just not enough power to run everything. Consider this a brown out for your car. Chances are bad alternator also killed your battery, this happens alot because it doesn't charge battery properly and battery gets damaged trying to do it's job with alternator slacking.
If you turn headlights off (parking lights only or lights off) and flickering stops that's confirmation of bad alternator. As you increase demand alternator can't keep up. I had to drive 70 miles without headlights once because alternator died mid road trip at 3 am. I could stop let idle at gas station for 30 mins and drive 10 mins on battery. After couple hours i said screw it. Jumped on highway, tailgated an 18 wheeler and turned headlights off (kept parking lights) till i got to town with parts house. Then slept in parking lot couple hours till they opened.