need HELP: alternator problem

Sun Feb 18 06:56:17 EST 2001

Have you tested the cable between the alternator and the battery?  There's 
a link in the passenger footwell where corrosion can cause a poor 
connection.  The repair procedure is on Chris Miller's 
page:   http://members.aol.com/c1j1miller/index.html and search on 
alternator to battery cable splice.

At 02:01 AM 02/18/2001 -0500, kbogach wrote:

>Robert,
>I have not problems to start a car but voltmeter shows ~11 V and battery,
>breaks and ABSoff lights stay on.
>The noise I mentioned I hear when I disconnect blue wire connector and
>provide current to the alternator exciter (from trusted source). I do it
>cause I suspect that blue wire does not supply enough of juice to kick
>electromagnetic field on . It isolates bad bulb/wire reasons.
>
>Konstantin Bogach.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Robert Myers <rmyers at oak.total-web.net>
>To: kbogach <kbogach at home.com>
>Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2001 12:43 AM
>Subject: Re: need HELP: alternator problem
>
>
> > Konstantin,
> >
> > I'm having a bit of trouble understanding what you write.  What I _think_
> > you are saying is that when you attempt to start the car you hear the
> > starter engage and then nothing much more happens.  Is that correct?  If
> > so, it sounds to me like your battery is low.  The indicator lights you
> > report are all typical of a low voltage condition.
> >
> > Try charging the battery or getting a jump start.  If the jump start works
> > then your battery is down.  That could be a dead battery but it could also
> > be a poorly functioning charging system.  If it's the latter then there
>are
> > several possible/likely causes.  Worn brushes in the alternator.  Missing
> > alternator belt.  Voltage regulator not working.  Stator wire to the
> > alternator loose/missing/broken.  Possibly some others.
> >
> > I hope that helps.  It's nearly 1 AM and I'm off to bed.  Good night and
> > good luck.
> >
> >
> > At 12:29 AM 2/18/01 -0500, you wrote:
> >
> > >I forgot to mention that I have the battery light, breaks light and ABS
> > >off light are on when it happens.
> > >It looks like I have a nice dialogue with myself :-)
> > >>----- Original Message -----
> > >>From: <mailto:kbogach at home.com>kbogach
> > >>To: <mailto:quattro at audifans.com>quattro at audifans.com
> > >>Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2001 12:17 AM
> > >>Subject: Re: need HELP: alternator problem
> > >>
> > >>Ok, after some thinking and reading I can make more concise and concrete
> > >>questions:
> > >>  When I boot the alternator with some initial current (engine runs) it
> > >> kicks on (it always happened before and this time I take the noise as a
> > >> proof of it), but then magnetic field dies (noise disappear). Of
>course,
> > >> I should've measure voltage instead of assuming that the noise means
> > >> kick on, but...  I think that noise may be result of  changing the
> > >> load  on bearings due to force from created magnetic field on moving
> > >> rotor/electromagnet.  What else can it be?  The only moving part -
>rotor
> > >> moved before and after the booting procedure. What could kill the EM
> > >> field? If brushes are bad why it starts (consistently)  in first place?
> > >>Why I am asking these questions instead of checking brushes first?
> > >>Because I don't have a garage and it is 20 - 30 deg. outside.  I'd like
> > >>to minimize my exposure to that hostile environment.
> > >>
> > >>Thanks.
> > >>
> > >>Konstantin Bogach.
> > >>200tq '89
> > >>200tqw '89
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>----- Original Message -----
> > >>>From: <mailto:kbogach at home.com>kbogach
> > >>>To: <mailto:quattro at audifans.com>quattro at audifans.com
> > >>>Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2001 8:20 PM
> > >>>Subject: need HELP: alternator problem
> > >>>
> > >>>Hi all.
> > >>>Today morning when I loaded my 200tq '89 with tools to go to fix and
> > >>>pick up my "new" 200tqw '89 (it has no breaks, needs MC)  the
>alternator
> > >>>warning light did not refuse go off, no charging. I had such thing
> > >>>before but ... a little of history: when it happened first time I
> > >>>cleaned blue wire contact but it did not help. I found that exciter
> > >>>current was less than spec. After I gave it a quick "push" from +12V
> > >>>(through a bulb, using connection at FL headlight) it started charging.
> > >>>I used this method each time it happened (not that often to address it
> > >>>more seriously).  But I did not know the main reason.
> > >>>Today this method did not help.  When I touched + with wire giving
> > >>>"push" to the alternator it started to sound like it has bad bearings.
> > >>>Sound disappeared in 3-4 seconds. It did it every time I touched the
> > >>>terminal.  I am not good in electronics. I have not idea what it might
> > >>>be.  I don't have a garage so method of trials and errors is a pain. I
> > >>>will appreciate any idea which can help me to narrow my search.
> > >>>
> > >>>Thank you.
> > >>>
> > >>>Konstantin Bogach
> > >>>200tq '89 (jealous one)
> > >>>200tqw '89 (did not see its new home yet)
> > >
> > >---
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> >
> > Bob
> > *****
> >   Robert L. Myers  rmyers at oak.total-web.net     Home 304-574-2372
> >   Rt. 4, Box 57,  Fayetteville, WV 25840 USA   WV tag Q SHIP
> >   '95 urS6  Cashmere Grey - der Wunderwagen    ICQ 22170244
> >   http://www.cob-net.org/church/pvcob.htm  MediaRing Talk 304-574-1166
> > *****
> >
>
>