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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 alpha 4/15/85; site kestrel.ARPA
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!pesnta!greipa!decwrl!Glacier!kestrel!king
From: king@kestrel.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Alternator Question
Message-ID: <1422@kestrel.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 28-Sep-85 20:19:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: kestrel.1422
Posted: Sat Sep 28 20:19:43 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 2-Oct-85 07:20:56 EDT
References: <687@ihu1m.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Kestrel Institute, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 26
Summary: Your (mechanical) voltage regulator is biting

In article <687@ihu1m.UUCP>, heneghan@ihu1m.UUCP (Joe Heneghan) writes:
> I have a 72' Dodge, and occasionally while night driving, the
> dash lights get very bright and the alternator meter almost
> pegs itself to +40. I don't know what the scale is, but it ranges from
> -40 to the left, a middle position, and then +40 to the right. Normally
> the needle is in the middle position. Does this indicate a faulty
> alternator, a faulty voltage regulator, or what?

Almost certainly a faulty voltage regulator, whose mechanical relay is
sticking in the "full charge" position

 It only happens during
> the night with the lights on. 
> 			Thanx in advance	Joe Heneghan

My guess us that the relay never REACHES full charge in the daytime
because you have insufficient load to cause you to invoke full charge.


WHEN THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING YOUR BATTERY IS MANUFACTURING HYDROGEN.
THIS IS TRUE EVEN IF MY DIAGNOSIS IS WRONG.  THIS IS DANGEROUS.  FIX
IT N-O-W!

Sorry about my delay in responding.


-dick


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