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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ucbvax!decwrl!moroney@jon.DEC (Mike Moroney)
From: moroney@jon.DEC (Mike Moroney)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Alternator Question
Message-ID: <583@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 25-Sep-85 22:57:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.583
Posted: Wed Sep 25 22:57:24 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Sep-85 04:46:58 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 18


>I have a 72' Dodge, and occasionally while night driving, the
>dash lights get very bright and the alternator meter almost
>pegs itself to +40. I don't know what the scale is, but it ranges from
>-40 to the left, a middle position, and then +40 to the right. Normally
>the needle is in the middle position. Does this indicate a faulty
>alternator, a faulty voltage regulator, or what? It only happens during
>the night with the lights on. 

Sounds like a bad voltage regulator to me.  Probably one of the internal
relays is sticking, telling the alternator to keep charging the system
(showing the +40 on the ammeter) which also will increase the system
voltage which shows up as brighter lights.  I bet your car devours headlights
and other lights, too.  It's probably best to get it fixed soon, excessive
voltage may cause your battery to explode.

-Mike Moroney
..decwrl!rhea!jon!moroney