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Author
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Topic: Charging or electrical problems
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73429MACH
Journeyman Posts: 76
From: Pocahontas,IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-12-2001 11:03 PM
   
I was coming home from a cruise last night when my car just died.(engine died, lights went dim, lost all power) I got pulled off the road, battery was dead. My brother jumped started it and I got it back home. I've noticed when I turn my lights on the gas gauge, temp. gauge and oil pressure gauge all show false readings. When I turn the lights off everything goes back to normal. Everything is new,(alt., battery, cables, starter, solenoid, volt. reg.) I charged the battery over night and everything seems ok. Any ideas what the problem is? What would cause the gauges to do this? Bad ground? Thanks, Ryan.
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JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 776
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-13-2001 05:55 AM
Does your battery lose power without the lights on?
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lyle29464
Gearhead Posts: 958
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-13-2001 10:23 AM
my guess is the alt. When you jump started it you put a shallow surface charge in it.
Enough to start it and even run a few miles with lights. After a while you had enough charge to run the engine but not enough to pull the lights. Sime times when the alt. goes out it does not stop chagring 100% It will put put out a very small charge and you can dive for weeks with out lights and other things that draw big time on the batt.
Most auto part stores have a machine that will tell you what is going on in your charging system.
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73429MACH
Journeyman Posts: 76
From: Pocahontas,IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-13-2001 10:28 AM
Would a bad alt. cause the gauges to give false readings? or does this sound like something else. I'm going to pull the alt. off today and have it checked. Thanks, Ryan.
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lyle29464
Gearhead Posts: 958
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-13-2001 11:16 AM
Yes your gas,temp,and oil guages are just ohm meters. The sending units for them are variable resistors. They will give somewhat accurate readings around 13 to 15 volts. If your battery drops to 7 volts and the alt. is not charging your car may still run with the lights etc off but your readings will be off.
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73429MACH
Journeyman Posts: 76
From: Pocahontas,IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-14-2001 04:28 AM
Well, I got the alt. checked today, it turns out its bad. It's still under warranty so I got a replacement. I have to paint it first before I can install it. I hope this is all thats wrong. Thanks for the replies, I'll keep you posted. Ryan.
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Bob429
Gearhead Posts: 387
From: Watervliet,MI,USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 08-15-2001 10:35 PM
you might want to recheck the voltage reg. and the wiring from the alternator There are two different wiring harnesses for the voltage reg. Depending on if it's for gauges or not. I had a similar problem and found that the harnesss that I bought was the wrong one. The alt fried the reg. Put a meter on the battery
with the key off and see if you are reading
a slight discharge. If you do it might need
replacing again. ------------------
Bob
Member#39
71 J code
429 SCJ-R Sportsroof
C6 4:11 [This message has been edited by Bob429 (edited 08-15-2001).]
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