RB20 Electrical Issues

Just to get the numbers out first, my battery w/o the car running is 12.6V, car with all devices I used tonight(heater full, HVAC fan full, defrost, FAL fans, 2 gauges, cluster, turbo timer,headlights, HVAC lights and stereo) is 12.86V, without the defrost, lights, HVAC fans, heater, I get 14.5V

Here is what has been happening and is very easy to tell at night. When I start up my car, my two side gauges are fully bright and my A/F gauge is functioning. When I turn my light switch up just one click , my gauges, cluster, HVAC,lights all go dim and the a/f gauge go dead but light is still light but dim. (Note: headlights are not on yet)

Up one more notch to full and things get progressively worse. While I was driving tonight, I had everything going and my stereo lost all power. Punched my defrost off and stereo turned back on!!

Now your thinking too much load, get rid of some stuff and you’ll be fine! Well no because before I changed my alternator belt, everything except the defrost would be on and wouldn’t have a problem. I was wondering if I let the engine warm up things would change but actually seem to get worse.

Now here is the kicker. Normally I drive conservatitive in the city and don’t really go much over 4K RPM if ever if I"m just cruising around the city doing whatever. Its only until I punch it (while I have everything going mind you) that everything goes back the way it should and stays there!!

My alternator belt is tight, I’m not sure entirely how much is too tight or whatever, doesn’t squeeling either.

What the hell is wrong with my f’in car, this is driving nuts!

Check the connections to the alternator
check all of your grounds, skyline use a crazy earth grounding system and when one looses is creates a mess of problems.
Go get your battery tested at canadian tire or something.

Lastly your regulator could be buggy which happens and in that case you will have the find a new one or take it out and get it repaired.

Ahh grounds, something I was going to ask. My main negative is going from my - terminal on my battery to one of the screws on the intake manifold. Should I put another ground from there to an unpainted part of the body?

Connections are fine, alternator is charging battery for a bit but then seems to stop doing it. Rev and hold, voltage is exactly the same and stays. Tested battery at Canadian tire thinking that but they said its fine. Symptoms seem to show up when I park outside then when I park in the garage however. Maybe I’ll just break down and buy a new battery and see how it goes (hate to buy anything and not knowing if it’ll fix it though)

do that and also cheakfor a bad fuse!!! then look for any light bulbs that are bad but id cheak the fuse first off!!!

Check your main accessory fuse in the engine compartment. Mine was blown, and would fuse itself back together at higher rpm, making everything seem normal, but i replaced it and everything was fine.

Load test your battery. It shouldn’t drop below 9.6 volts. If it does, toss it.