Bert,
I had a similar problem with my 75. The voltmeter would slowly sink even
though the alternator was opertaing properly. Running headlights, heater
motor, or wipers hastened the discharge. My turn signals operated slower and
slower. Without any accessories it would inducate a modest charge.
I finally reached the point where I couldn't trust the car to get me home.
The solution actually turned out to be quite simple. Somehow I had lost the
ground connection between the body and the battery negative terminal. A
jumper wire with aligator clips between the negative battery post and the
wiper motor body created a small spark, a sure sign that the ground was
lacking. The jumper cured ALL my electrical problems. It has since been
replaced by #12 wire from the negative battery post to the wiper motor
mounting bolt. A good braided ground cable from the bell housing to the body
will do the same.
Hope this helps.
Rick
75 Delft, all apart
>Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 12:10:27 +0200
>From: Bert Van der Stee <bvdstee1@yahoo.com>
>Subject: Ammeter indication
>6packers,
>already my thanks to all who contributed to my (hopefully) solved battery
>charging problem. Thanks to your responses and Dan's great "Electrical
>Maintenance Handbook" I figured the culprits as the alternator and a bad
>battery.
>I have done a testdrive last weekend of about 10 miles, partially with the
>headlights on, and have experienced no problem. The car still started
>normally afterwards, also after a stop & start & stop & start.
>
>Only problem - the ammeter is indicating "decharge". When I start the car,
>it goes to a clear "charge" indication, after about a minute or so it goes
>down little under "neutral" and stays there. Each time I stop and restart
>the car, it starts in the charge area immediately and goes down to a light
>decharge (about 0.5 cm off centre).
>
>=> What are the symptoms of an ammeter indicating wrong ? How can I measure
>this ? Or do I have something consuming a huge amount of power (nothing is
>acting "funny", though - no strange noises at all) - but then the voltage
>measured between the battery poles with a running engine would go down
>also, isn't it ?
>Voltage and everything is OK with the engine is running, the alternator nor
>the wiring to the battery can be the problem.
>And again, the testdrive showed OK, but I am not fully confident.
>thanks !
>Bert
>72 TR6
|