Mystery voltage drop problem. Need help.

[SS_Sean]

Same thing mine was doing check my post

Your post isn't in complete thoughts or sentences, so it's a little hard to understand. Are you saying that refurbishing the dash, cleaning things up a little, etc. got the charging system back in order?

I just went out and checked the volts on the battery and it was 12.36 vdc.

 

[TurboDave]

Your post isn't in complete thoughts or sentences, so it's a little hard to understand. Are you saying that refurbishing the dash, cleaning things up a little, etc. got the charging system back in order?

I just went out and checked the volts on the battery and it was 12.36 vdc.

12.36 is quite a bit down from a full charge. A fully charged battery with no load should read 12.66

12.3 volts is a 70% charge.

 

[chopped39]

You can bypass light in dash. I dont know how but i have read it before on this site.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Part #6961 on Kirbans site
FieldFix Alternator Plug-In by Casper's Electronics

My dads car was having charging issues so i purchased the above.


To confirm, yes you should only have one wire in the 4 pin connector and if your LIGHT BULB in the dash for the alt (VOLTS) does not light up with the key to the on position, then your ALTERNATOR will not charge.

Sounds like your problem will be solve since the light does not come on Key On Engine Off.

That aftermarket harness plugs into the ECM wastegate solenoid harness, which is labled ECM SOL on the fuse panel under the dash.

Or you can do some research and let us know how to bypass the bulb :biggrin:

BW

 

[84HAGN]

The light is useless

The dash light is useless.
I pulled my dash and cleaned everything all connectors and replaced all bulbs.
Re assemble and the light works fine . Start car system is charing 14.2 volts at idle , Drive down the road and voltage drops and starts to jump all around.
The dash light never came on while I was driving down the road but the charging system was NOT charging, I think because of the age of our cars the contacts on the instrument cluster loose contact when riding down the road so the light does not come on because the circuit is open and if the circuit is open the Alt. does not get the 11.8 volts to the field terminal to excite the alt to start charging.
I went to the local Alt Starter shop and got a harness with a diode and resistor hooked it up to a switched ignition source and wala charging 14.5 all the time no more intermittened voltage drops.
DO NOT run a 12. volt hot wire to the field terminal on the alt , as the field terminal only requires 12 volts or less NOT more. thats why you need a resistor in the circuit (the idiot light on dash acts as a resistor)
If you feed the field with more than 12.0 volts max you will destroy the alt.
(ask me how I know )
Hope that helps

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Makes perfect sense as to why the kirban one taps into the wastegate soleniod harness. -----> 5 volt reference!

Maybe thats all it takes.

 

[SS_Sean]

Thanks for the good advice. I'm not doubting anyone's logic or verasity, here, but wouldn't it make sense to try and get the circuit from the alternator to the voltage light in the dash fixed first, before I go doing jumpers?

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Thanks for the good advice. I'm not doubting anyone's logic or verasity, here, but wouldn't it make sense to try and get the circuit from the alternator to the voltage light in the dash fixed first, before I go doing jumpers?

I wouldnt even bother trying to find the loosed connection, it could be the printed circuit card in the dash. Buddy of mine went thru a few dash clusters to find one that worked.

If you turn the key to the on position and the volt light doesnt come on, 40.00 and plug and play.. Casper's Electronics, Inc.: Field Fix Harness 1986-1989 GN/TTA

 

[SS_Sean]

I wouldnt even bother trying to find the loosed connection, it could be the printed circuit card in the dash. Buddy of mine went thru a few dash clusters to find one that worked.

If you turn the key to the on position and the volt light doesnt come on, 40.00 and plug and play.. Casper's Electronics, Inc.: Field Fix Harness 1986-1989 GN/TTA

Too late! :biggrin: :biggrin:

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