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Re: Random alternator question...

To: walter@omni.sps.mot.com (Thomas Walter)
Subject: Re: Random alternator question...
From: "Patrick J. Horne" <horne@cs.utexas.edu>
Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 12:26:54 -0500
> 
> Of humor... on the later Datsun's, when the dash warning light burns out
> the alternator will not turn on as expected. If you rev the engine to
> about 4,000 rpm... suddenly there is enough "self-excitement" to get the
> alternator to kick start itself to be on... then around 1,500 rpm the
> alternator stops putting out any current. Just makes it interesting to
> trouble shoot... usually it is a bad dash light ($1) and not a $80/exchange
> alternator.  
> 
Tom, 
 In the mid 60's I was working on a Jeep that wouldn't charge.  After
replacing the alternator and regulator (Motorola) I checked the charge light.
Yup, grounding the L wire at the alternator didn't light the dash
lamp.  The lamp turned out to be good.  Turned out that the entire
instrument panel was one large hot pressed circuit board with many
small breaks in the traces.  After about 6 jumpers the idiot light
and alternator worked.  I also repaired the intermittent fuel gauge,
oil pressure, warning lights, etc.  The customer "forgot" that he
was having troubles with the other indicators on the dash!  The dealer
wanted about $600 to repair the problem!  Not a good choice of circuitry
in an off road vehicle.


Peace,
Pat


-- 
- Support Habitat for Humanity, A "hand up", not a "hand out" -
Pat Horne, Network Manager, Shop Supervisor, Hardware Guru 
CS Dept, University of Texas, Austin, Tx. 78712 USA 
voice (512)471-9517, fax (512)471-8885, UUCP:cs.utexas.edu!horne

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