# 2002 Buick Lesabre possible power surge?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-buick-lesabre-possible-power-surge/86099>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 19, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-buick-lesabre-possible-power-surge/86099 "2014-07-19T19:55:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![killertofu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9d8465/32.png) [@killertofu](https://community.cartalk.com/u/killertofu)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-buick-lesabre-possible-power-surge/86099/1 "2014-07-19T19:55:48Z")

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My 2002 Buick Lesabre has about 160,000 miles on it I keep up with maintenance regular oil changes and what not. Today when I am driving to work and right as I get on the freeway my car starts lurching forward and slowing down repeatedly so I pull over turn the car off look under the hood everything looks normal to me. I wait a bit start the car up and the lights on my panel go from the dimmest they can be to blinding bright and I could not adjust the brightness at all. Anyway the car drove fine the rest of the way but the lights were bright as can be the whole way there. Anyone have any ideas what could be causing this? Bad battery?

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-buick-lesabre-possible-power-surge/86099/2 "2014-07-20T04:30:11Z")

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You may want to get the running voltage checked. Typically it is 13.5V to 14.5V. Any higher and the voltage regulator may be bad. It is built into the alternator, so that may need replacing.

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**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 8:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-buick-lesabre-possible-power-surge/86099/3 "2014-07-20T08:57:01Z")

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In the older days an oxygen sensor would cause that. These days there should be a code that will direct somebody toward a particular system that is causing the problem. If you have seen a warning light you may have a code to read.

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**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-buick-lesabre-possible-power-surge/86099/4 "2014-07-20T21:23:56Z")

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I’m with @bustedknuckles! I think your alternator needs replacement. Over voltage is bad and can kill modern electronics. It can be checked easily with a volt meter or the parts store will check it for free for you.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-buick-lesabre-possible-power-surge/86099/5 "2014-07-20T22:59:53Z")

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Here’s another vote for @BustedKnuckles and a bad alternator.

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**Author:** ![killertofu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9d8465/32.png) [@killertofu](https://community.cartalk.com/u/killertofu)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 9:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-buick-lesabre-possible-power-surge/86099/6 "2014-07-21T09:52:30Z")

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Thanks for the info! I am having a guy look at it tomorrow.