I do have a CEL...I'm going to unplug the air pump and see what happens with this dimming light issue. I'm starting to think it's not the air pump, though.

My car generally only does this in the morning when it's cold, and then it happens intermittantly when I exit the highway and enter traffic (this is the part that makes me think it's not the air pump.) For at least a minute, the lights will dim almost as if the A/C kicked on, then bright again the next second, then dim for a second, and on and on...

I have no trouble starting the car. This condition is not affected by how many electrical loads are running (I could have both heated seats on, blower on high, wipers, rear defrost, foot on the brakes OR have nothing on at all but the DRLs.)

If an alternator will fix it, I'll slap one in there but it just seems more involved than that for some reason.

Good luck...I'm going to try to eliminate as many sources as I can and hopefully nail the problem down.

There are very few posts of 850 and newer models with altenator problems until they go over 150K miles (240Km). If your oil is heavier than 5W30 and you park outside all night, that might explain why your engine slows down when it is going through it's checklist. What is your rpm at startup, it should be around 1000? You just might need a tune up: plugs, wires, timing check.
I just started my V70... The headlights flicker when the ECC turns the inside fan on for a few seconds. The heated seats were also on and the AC was off. The garage temperature is about 5C.

Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

Aside from the one pain in the ass bolt that you need to come from under the manifold with a long extension and a wobbly socket to get to they are not too bad. I just blow the p/s pump out of the way and then pull the alt. As I recall you pretty much end up turning the accesory mount bracket that it all mounts to loose in the process.

Mark