1999 Buick Park Avenue flickering interior & exterior l

1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE
179,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
MDGIBBONS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
My 1999 Park Ave's lights started flickering at an idle as well as going down the road recently. I thought maybe a volatage regulator but don't think so because the altenator is a new lifetime from Auto Zone.

Back in the early fall, I had to disconnect the suspension compressor because it went bad and the car was calling for it to come on, causing a discharge. After disconnecting this unit, I did not notice any flickering.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Michael Gibbons
Mar 10, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
RASMATAZ
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 75,992 POSTS
Might be new but there's such thing as manufacturer's defect.

Get the charging system checked out-the problem could be coming from the computer's control of the field generation.
Mar 10, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Avatar
MDGIBBONS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
You just answered the altenator question for me as well. Thanks for this info also. I am taking the car to Auto Zone tomorrow and will let them check it out while it is in the car.

p.s. I did not think I would receive such a quick answer.

Michael Gibbons
Mar 10, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
MDGIBBONS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
After going to Auto Zone and them telling me that the alternator was not bad, I climbed under the car looking for a loose ground and could not find it.

From all appearances to me, it had to be the alternator. So I took it back to Auto Zone and had them check it out again and it checked out fine. So I insisted they honor their warranty and let me put a new one on which they did.

It was the alternator after all. The car runs perfect with no flickering lights. Even though the alternator checks out fine, the voltage regulator or the brushes can still cause an irregular rhythym.

Hope this helps someone with the same problem.

Michael Gibbons
Mar 26, 2009 at 7:30 PM