strobing lights WTF

[dogginred90]

Hey guys I need some help. My lights will strobe constantly when I am driving it looks like a cop car. But when I jump on it my battery light on the dash flashes. I have tried a 4 gauge power wire from the alternator to the battery and a 4 gauge groud wire and still the same. Next will be the Alternator. But does this have anything to do with my car backfiring and stumbling at WOT. Maybe not enough juice to keep the ICM power up and I may be losing spark. Thanks again guys

[TGPilot]

If your lights are flickering it is your alternator. If I was you I would locate and clean EVERY single ground on the chassis, motor, sensor, etc. Also take your car to a local auto parts store like checker or autozone for them to do a free charging system test.

If you do not have enough power to fire off your coils to full then yes you will have a stumble.

[TGPvsTIII]

sounds like a diode has failed in the alternator. More common on Gm stuff then others. If the system has some transient AC voltage the computer doesn't like your performance issue may be caused by your flickering lights. Here is a little test you can try. I had to look for this because I know what to look for at work it is just hard to write at times. copied and pasted just for you.

..... Transient AC voltage in charging systems will cause havoc, especially in the later model cars. Make it a standard part of your charging system diagnosis procedure to check for AC and voltage drop. In most cars, this adds just a few minutes to the check, but can add legitimate dollars to the invoice. Setting your handy/dandy DMM on the DC scale, go from B+ to battery POST (not cable) and turn on loads. No load reading should be less than .2 volts, full load should be less than .5 volts. Switch the scale to AC volts, and the reading should be the same, or less.
..... More than .5 volts DC tells you that there is a wiring problem, and it will affect available voltage to PCM, more that .5 volts AC tells you there is a problem with the alternator and that will also affect the PCM's ability to do intelligent controlling of the car's functions, whether it is a BCM, or a PCM.
..... If you are into rebuilding alternators in the shop, you can use the AC voltage reading to diagnose the exact fault, from open diodes, open stator, or shorted diode. For most of us, any reading with AC voltage greater than 1/2 of DC voltage means replace the alternator to prevent AC damage to computer operation.

Tim

[dogginred90]

Thank you again guys. I was thinking the alternatop might be  causing all my problems and I will check all my grounds as well. Boy I hope this fixes alot of my problems.