[DML] Re: weird problem (electrical)

[Jan van de Wouw <delorean@xxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 05:31:51 -0000, Dale Funk wrote:

> I'm playing my stereo and my lights are on.. No problem.
> I switch them to high beam... The stereo blacks out briefly.. the
> lights on the stereo turn completely off as if the power was cut..
> Then, it comes back on and picks up where it left off.  Now.. the
> interesting part.
> If I switch the lights on dim and back on high immediately, it
> doesn't do it..... BUT..... if I wait about 30 seconds and do it
> again, it blacks out again just like before...

Sounds to me like one of the cells on your battery is dying.
Take it out of the car and have it tested.

Having a dead cell will effectively drop the voltage on your
car by allmost 2 Volts, switching on a high current user will
drop the voltage even further. Most Stereo's don't play on
anything less than 9 to 10 Volts...

When flipping back and forth between high and dipped the
alternator probably "takes up" the drop because of the higher
current demand by the headlights, but after the described
30 seconds it can't react as fast as it has to supply the
lights with over 20 Amps all at once too!

JAN van de Wouw

Thinking Different...   Using a Mac...
Living the Dream...   Driving a DeLorean...

#05141 "Dagger" since Sept. 2000
--------------------------------




To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/