Re: low voltage, battery light on

[jtrealty@xxxx]

Before condemming the alternater or voltage regulater (it's inside the 
alternater) MAKE SURE that all of your grounds are clean and tight. 
Pay particular attention to the ground cable from the battery and the 
ground point on the frame inside the front left wheel to the frame. A 
bad connection can cause all kinds of weird problems and if you start 
replacing parts before fixing the ground connection you will be 
wasting a lot of money and time and getting frustrated. It only takes 
a few minuets and doesn't cost anything (assuming the cables are 
there!) Hot weather doesn't affect the voltage regulater, they have 
temperature compensating circutry in them, but it does affect the 
output of the alternater. As electrical components (wiring and 
alternater) get hot they carry less current. Also the belt will tend 
to slip if loose in the heat (it streches a little). At the same time 
the electrical system is under the most stress, ie: heat and high 
demand from the engine, cooling system and A/C, the cooling system is 
also under high demands and of course if it's dark you also have the 
headlights going. This is the scenario that the Ducy couldn't keep up 
with. It's hard to imagine but under high demands a car can use more 
electric than a small house! Upwards of 100 amps! Also consider when 
starting the motor the momentary draw is over 300 amps! This is why 
all connections MUST be clean and tight. Some of the branch circuits 
(like the cooling fans) draw 30 amps continuosly. The wiring is only 
rated for 30 amps but not continuosly! This is why you need to allow 
the fans to cycle either on the otterstadt or the low pressure A/C 
switch. It gives the circuit a chance to cool and not heat up to max. 
It also points out why it is important to check all of the connections 
in the fuse/relay panel. When you go out for a drive in the heat put 
your hand behind the passenger seat and feel the heat from the fuse 
panel. Some owners leave the carpet and cover off to help keep it 
cool. It becomes a vicious cycle because the hotter it gets the higher 
the resistance, the higher the resistance the hotter it gets. Some 
cars have actually caught fire from this. I personally have seen a fan 
fail bypass burn and almost set the car on fire. Because it is a 
hidden area may people never even look at the fuses.
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757

--- In dmcnews@xxxx, dherv10@xxxx wrote:
> Andy, Sounds like the regulator in the alternator is going out or 
has gone 
> out. This hot weather all over the country is playing havoc on them. 
Delco 
> has changed their specifications two or three times in the last 
couple of 
> years and even though they try to do better, sometimes it's not 
quite as good 
> in all applications. They try to make one device fit as many 
applications as 
> possible. We are always looking for the better regulator. I'm am 
going to 
> start adding a diode in the light wire to try to stop some potential 
feed 
> back problems.
> John Hervey
> http://www.specialtauto.com/