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Re: SPITFIRE: Normal dash light behaviours

To: "Victor B. Michael" <vmichael@tibco.com>
Subject: Re: SPITFIRE: Normal dash light behaviours
From: Reed Mideke <rmideke@interbase.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 11:23:48 -0700
Victor B. Michael wrote:
> 
> Greetings,
> 
> Another question in a hopefully, non-irritating list of questions.
> 
> Can someone tell me how these lights are supposed to behave?
> 
> My green flasher indicator light only flashes when my hazard lights are
> on. I sensed from the handbook the indicator is also for the turn
> signals. 
This is correct. It should flash with either the hazard or turnsignal.

>I like the idea, since on short turns the auto turn signal
> deactivator doesn't always kick in and outside noise makes it difficult
> to hear the clicking when they're on. I don't want to be viewed like the
> blue-hair (no offense, my blue-hairs are making their appearences ;)
> driver who leaves their signal on while not intending a turn.
If the deactivator works better in one direction, you can
center it by removing the steering wheel and aligning the
plastic ring. If I remember right the slots should be vertical when
the wheel is straight, but I'm not positive. It was fairly intuitive
when I had it apart.
> 
> The other light in question is the vertical text lamp reading "HAZARD".
> It's on solid all the time. My guess is, it should flash but *shrug* -
> this is just a guess.
On my '76, this comes on in either of the two positions of the
headlight switch (i.e. parking lights or headlights+parking lights) 
I have a sneaking suspicion that this is not the intended 
behavior, but I don't think it's supposed to be connected to
the hazard flashers.

> 
> How should I proceed in making these lights behave as they should. I
> can't use the same method as for my daughter; the car sits alone for
> hours, even days confined to its room (garage).
> 
I'm afraid you must sell your soul to Lucas ;-)
But seriously, since your signals work, and the bulb works, it seems
like the problem is between the indicator light and the flasher. I'd
guess a loose or correded connection. I don't have my wiring diagram handy,
but I'm sure someone on the list can get you the color and where it's
supposed to hook up.

> Thanks in advance for your expertise,
> 

> Vic M.

The other indicator that baffled me was the 'ignition' light. It seemed
to flicker from dim to bright in various pseudo random patterns. I chalked
this up to Lucas ignored it. Then I noticed the pool of goop around my
battery. Turns out my alternator was putting out up to 17.5 volts at 6K rpm. 
After swapping it out, the light stays dark as long as the motor is
running. (oh btw, that's an internally regulated alternator that came with
my datsun motor, so swapping the entire unite was required. The stock spit
one might have an external regulator.)

-- 
Reed Mideke                                        rmideke@interbase.com

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