why does the wattage on the illumination control panel fluctuate on my 2014 sonic

Asked by GenuineDawn Nov 22, 2014 at 11:59 AM about the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic LS Hatchback FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I just bought a 2014 Chevy Sonic hatchback LS and love it. I did notice that occasionally
when driving, the wattage on the illumination control panel will suddenly increase and
become slightly brighter. Should I be concerned and take it to the dealer? Is this
explainable other than some electrical issue?
Thanks!

2 Answers
50,685

John answered 9 years ago

A couple of things to consider. If your engine is using a lot of power, the output from the alternator will go up. If the battery is low, it will increase to do a fast charge on it while keeping the demands of the vehicle in range. Another cause may be the diodes in the alternator are going bad and the regulator is not working correctly or over compensating and giving higher voltage surges. Have the alternator checked or the voltage regulator also checked. As long as your at it, have the battery also checked. Better to spend the money to test them, than sit on the side of a road waiting for a tow truck to the garage and then have to pay for the tests anyway.

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nszmnsky answered 9 years ago

It could be that the automatic headlights are changing which does change the instrument panel illumination as well.

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