[DeTomaso] Electrical Gremlins still live!

[Christopher Kimball]

I'm assuming you're using the stock alternator gauge.  What does it read when the car is running?  Does it show a discharge?

I had several weird problems until I took out the gauge and wire-brushed the terminals, nuts, washers and connectors, then re-attached 
it all.  Once I did that, and realized all my accessories had to be hooked to the alternator side, not the battery positive side (which
seemed completely counter-intuitive at first) I've had no problems since.

Good luck--electrical problems can really be draining...

Chris
#3846

> Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2008 20:44:38 -0500
> From: michaelsavga at gmail.com
> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: [DeTomaso] Electrical Gremlins still live!
> 
> Greetings all,
> 
> Today was the proverbial day from hell if measured by frustration level.
> 
> I discover that the Alt had been replaced in the past ( as it would
> have been naturally ) and I should have known this because I have done
> belts before and it never really occurred to me to examine the thing
> as it worked fine ( note; know hat everything is before you need to
> know ).  IT was now an internal fan unit with a built in voltage
> regulator.
> Given all the advice from here pinpointing that as a possible cause of
> my non working gauges and constant battery drain, I opted to remove
> the ALT and take it to Advance Auto Parts and have it tested,
> sur'nuff, it was putting out a total of 4 volts, problem solved or so
> I thought.
> 
> I bought a new unit ( pulley exchange required, so for the record, the
> unit that fits is for a 1992 Ford E150 Econoline Van with a 302 ) with
> 95 amps, that was 149.95, the super  performance version with 200 amps
> was not in stock and at 399.95 wasn't going to happen anyway.
> 
> I went home, installed the new ALT and drove back to the store and
> ta-da. NOTHING!  Machine showed that I had no charge going on with a
> brand new ALT with new Voltage Reg installed with a new, properly
> tightened belt, etc.
> 
> Still no gauges, and a dying battery because it ain't getting charged back up.
> 
> I took the new rear GT$ taillights out, sanded away the paint where
> they mount to the bodywork, so I'm fairly sure that if I had a short
> or bad ground back there that it's gone.
> 
> I'm at my wit's end.
> 
> One suggestion was that our amp gauges are stupid and that it could be
> the problem ( as opposed to a Voltmeter ).
> 
> all the fuses are fine and the Motor to chassis strap is fine.
> 
> What else is there between the ALT and the battery that could
> interrupt the signal telling the ALt to get to work?
> 
> as stated before I have a MSD-6AL, a MSD Electronic Dist, MSD Tach
> adapter, Accel 300+ wires,, MSD High Voltage coil, and the thing runs
> great as long as the battery has been charged up before you go out and
> obviously you can't use the headlights or it's gonna die fast.
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> Michael in Savannah
> 
> BTW, I did a photo series on the ALT R and R and included the belts,
> I'll post that as soon as I can to the bottom of the root cause.
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Michael L. Shortt
> Savannah, Georgia
> www.michaelshortt.com
> michael at michaelshortt.com
> 
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