[DeTomaso] Interesting ammeter situation.

[Paul Rimov]

So is this to warn others the dreaded Drew Flu is still pandemic?


> On Feb 14, 2017, at 7:19 PM, Mike Drew via DeTomaso <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:
> 
>   Guys,
> 
>   Yesterday I accompanied the new owner of a '74 Pantera from Sacramento
>   to his home in San Diego.
> 
>   We almost made it.
> 
>   As we entered the worst of the LA megopolis, the charging system
>   suddenly didn't. The am we had been dancing around for hours and it
>   finally stabilized deep in the discharge zone. With headlights and fans
>   on, crawling in stop and go traffic, it wouldn't be too long before the
>   car quit completely so we dove off the freeway into a gas station and
>   then enjoyed a two-hour tow truck ride (gotta love AAA premium!)
> 
>   Today we started troubleshooting. The new owner is almost devoid of
>   tools, but we started by changing the regulator since its cheap. The
>   result was an ammeter that now danced violently either side of center.
> 
>   Next suspect was the alternator. Although it was new, it was a standard
>   Ford remain and thus probably only 50A. We took it to a nearby
>   alternator/starter shop where they rebuilt it and converted to 90A in
>   just over an hour. They said it tested good beforehand, but since we
>   were there, why not improve it?
> 
>   With the rebuilt ammeter installed, the needle swing was even more
>   pronounced, wider at idle, and reducing at about 3000 rpm.
> 
>   Now armed with a recently purchased voltmeter, we tested voltage at the
>   battery and found it cranking out 14.3-14.6 volts depending on rpm and
>   electrical load (headlights etc)
> 
>   After a quick call to SOBill Taylor (bless him!!!!) we reinstalled the
>   old regulator to see what would happen.
> 
>   Ammeter jumping stopped, replaced with a constant discharge. Voltmeter
>   testing at the battery revealed 12.5 volts--the battery was powering
>   the car and the alternator was doing nothing.
> 
>   We reinstalled the new, electronic (as opposed to stock-style
>   mechanical) regulator, and once again had proper charging indications
>   at the battery, but the ammeter continued its wild ways.
> 
>   I shot a video and stupidly oriented my phone vertically. Only idiots
>   shoot videos like this, so my profound apologies:
> 
>   [1]http://youtu.be/lLKf2Z23P_Q
> 
>   So what do you think the next course of action should be? I have at
>   least one extra stock ammeter and several regulators, so I am thinking
>   of loaning them to him for troubleshooting purposes. Do any of you have
>   any suggestions?
> 
>   (No, don't suggest he just bypass the gauge or switch to a voltmeter--a
>   voltmeter would not have warned us of our charging system failure and
>   would have left us stranded on the freeway!)
> 
>   Thanks in advance for any constructive advice (other than to learn how
>   to hold a phone properly when shooting a video!)
> 
>   Mike
> 
>   Sent from my iPhone
> 
> References
> 
>   1. http://youtu.be/lLKf2Z23P_Q
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