intermittant heavy load on Alternator?

[Bernie Benz]

Phil,

I think that you have just disproved your contention that the CC  
voltmeter is more accurate than is the dash gauge. Neither are worth  
much, excepting in relative terms. The CCvm is measuring the voltage  
supplied to the CC control head so, if changes in fan current change  
this voltage at the CC head, you could have either a high resistance  
supply lead or a high resistance source. To isolate which one, you  
must measure at the source, the battery, or at the jumper post if you  
know that the lead between the two is solid.

Bernie


On Nov 21, 2007, at 11:19 AM, Phil Rose wrote:

> At 10:15 AM -0500 11/21/07, Feelstranger wrote:
>>
>> Recently, I realized that this intermittent low charge (voltmeter
>> indicates as low as 12 V while running, sometimes more) was
>> accompanied by occasional belt squeals which got me thinking that
>> the low charge was actually a large load on the alt.
>
> Are you reading voltage on the Climate Control (channel 11)?? That's
> more accurate than the dash gauge. BTW, I find that lately the
> voltage drops significantly due to running the heater at normal fan
> speed--switching to "low" speed boosts the voltage by nearly a full
> volt (in fact, my car's heater fan has much more affect on voltage
> than almost any other electrical accessory). My Bosch alternator and
> heater fan are relatively new (3 or 4 yrs old).
>
> Phil
> -- 
>
> Phil Rose.....Rochester, NY USA
> '06 A3q 3.2 V6 (5K, silver)
> '91 200q	(156K, Lago blue)
> Gone to Audi Valhalla:
> '91 200q   (Tornado red)
> '89 100 (Bamboo gold)
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