--Previous Message--
: Oscar if your alternator is putting out
: 14V and the battery has enough to crank
: the engine, your problem is somewhere
: in the light circuit ie ground, short,
: etc.
: Glen
:
: --Previous Message--
: After failing the emission test 4 yrs
: in
: a row, my GT6 passed this time. I
: haven't done or touched the engine
: except for changing the distributor
: cap. Maybe their machine is broken. As
: for the flickering lights, I cheated
: and ran a separate line and battery to
: the front lights so nothing flickered
: when the turn signals were on. LOL. I
: had the charging system checked at a
: shop and it produces 14 volts so maybe
: I will just replace the alternator. I
: don't drive much at night anyway. For
: now, I am good to go!
:
: --Previous Message--
: Thanks Doug, I will do the test as you
: mentioned. My alternator is probably
: over 15 yrs old and it may need
: rebuilding, althouth at idle, I get
: over 13 volts reading.
:
: --Previous Message--
: I am very fortunate. About a decade
: ago
: the state of NC implemented a rolling
: cut off age. Once your car reaches 35
: years of age no inspection at all is
: required. I guess their assumption is
: that after your car reaches that age it
: is owned as a labor of love, not
: necessity, and that you will be
: maintaining it because you love the
: car.
:
: As to the alternator, worn brushes can
: make the voltage level oscillate
: between high and low points. Usually
: this is accompanied by a flickering
: charge warning lamp... but not always.
: Another thing that can happen is a
: failure of the onboard electronics in
: the alternator allowing excessive AC
: ripple to make it past the diodes. You
: can measure this by connecting a
: voltmeter across a good ground point
: and the big output terminal on the
: alternator. The DC voltage should
: measure somewhere between 13 and 14.5
: volts with the engine running. If you
: switch your meter to AC volts (leave
: the meter lead connections the way they
: were) you will see a value anywhere
: from a few milli-volts up to maybe 1/2
: volt. There are different opinions
: about what is acceptable. Regardless
: of what you find on the web, if you see
: 1/2 volt AC or more, there is likely a
: problem with the alternator.
:
: Those high AC voltage swings can
: contribute to lights and accessories
: "flickering".
:
: (OH... and make these voltage tests
: while driving around. Extend the meter
: leads and run them into the passenger
: compartment so you or your passenger
: can look at the meter while driving.
: And don't use a Smiths gauge to measure
: voltage. They respond much too slow.)
:
: Doug L.
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: Hi Glen,
: In Delaware, there emission test
: waivers available if you spend the
: minimum amount to try to fix the
: emissions. In my case, I have been
: using the waiver for the past 4 years.
: I think Lucas has a reputation of not
: being a verify reliable product as they
: get old. Over the years, I have
: replaced electrical connectors and
: wires.
:
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