MX-3.com

Today my charge light decided to come on. The weird part is that it dims at idle and gets brighter as i rev the car up. I believe its the alternator but I want to get other peoples opinions before i change it.

I have the 110 amp alternator that came with my ZE and was going to put it on but I just wanted to get my car running so i went with the K8. If you guys confirm that my problem is the alternator I'll just go ahead and swap it out.

Sounds like the voltage regulator is going. It is a part of the alt and thus replace the whole alt. You cna have the alt checked at the auto parts store before you acutally buy the new one to make sure that the alt is bad. Ask then to take a look at the voltage regulator too.

If the voltage regulator is part of the alternator then why is it listed as a seperate part on autozone?

"Voltage Regulator for a
1993 Mazda MX-3
Item Part
No.
Warranty Core Value Unit
Price Availability
Store Web
WELLS VR859 3 MO $78.99"

Just curious, as I think mine may be bad as well... as you can probably tell, I am no mechanic, but with my financial situation I am having to learn.

I've never seen it listed as a seperate part. I know it is incorporated into the alt though. Perhaps you can get to it easily and replace it, but for the trouble I'd just get a whole new alt.
note: there are also aftermarket voltage regulators that have been used to success. Some have even gained dyno proven HP from using a aftermarket voltage regulator. They can be added as a substitute to the factory one or inline with the factory one.

Sorry I need some input too but on something else. I notice my idle is fine till I put my heater on then it goes up and down slowly over and over........? Is this just because of a bad ground somewhere?
Just didnt want to start a new thread on a small question
thanx.

mine was doing that.. what was it? the nut to the alternator was loose..was dpoing the exact same thing yours was doing. If everything is fine.. its time to swap alternator, im saving mine as a spare.