Alternator problems

[Marc Swanson]

> > but you shouldn't have to rev it past 1000-1200 to get
> > it to kick in....if you are having to take it up to 2
> > or 3k suspect the excitation circuit


On my 4ktq I had the same problem.  I would have to rev my car up to 3k rpms
before the alternator would kick in.. sort of like a light switch.  Once it
came on it stayed on until I shut the car off.  I didn't think much of it
since I never stay below 3k for very long ;-)

A few weeks/months later the charging circuit quit altogether.  This forced
me to get off my rear and look for the cause of the problem.  It turns out
that I had accidentally cut the blue wire going to the alternator while
cleaning up some superfulous wiring in my engine bay.  I suspect that what
happened was the connection had always been weak causing the turn on at 3k
behavior but when I actually severed the wire it stopped working entirely.
Perhaps you have a weak excitor wire?  Check resistance from one end to the
other if possible.  I put in a replacement wire and it works great now.

HTH

-Marc-
87 4ktq
88 90q