HELP! type 44 5k/100/200 wierdness

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

Consider (among many other possibilities) the dreaded type 44 cable splice
failure in the passenger foot well, associated with an oxidizing crimp in
the big cable between the rear under-seat battery and the forward engine
compartment. The crimped splice develops corrosion and high resistance,
making the front compartment dependent on alternator-supplied voltage and
demanding that the car be running to provide it. The battery voltage is
greatly diminished getting through the faulty splice, and everything
electrical shows abnormal behavior because of the low voltages.

Diagnosis is by careful measurement of voltages on both sides of the
splice. This was described in great detail in list threads a few years ago.

The archives should contain references, possibly using 'cable splice' as a
search term. I can't find it in my personal archive.

Perhaps others on the list will have it on their web sites.

And other causes should be considered.

Doyt Echelberger
87 5ktq  248k miles in Ohio USA
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At 11:31 AM 8/13/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>last night (hot here in PA), i pulled into a gas station with my '86 5kT -
>euro lights on, a/c on, fan running hurricane speed. shut the car off, went
>inside, afterrun fan running on high. nothing seemed amiss. came back out a
>few mins later, got in the car, started it up - and it cranked over
>slowly..but started up..  dash lights were dim,  VOLT warning light came in
>in the autocheck display, and car started running rough, and was belching out
>smoke out of the exhaust like crazy..  the climate control LED display lights
>were flickering on and off, and then the car stalled out. i tried to crank it
>up again, but clickclick nothing. no juice.  the battery is fine, its only 8
>months old, group 41 700cca.   luckily i had my jumper booster pack with me
>and i jumped the battery and the car started up, but dash lights were still
>dim, VOLT warning light on, and climate control display going haywire and the
>low amperage making the ECU go crazy (im assuming) thats why the fuel mixture
>was off and the car was belching smoke from the exhaust still..  the rad fan
>is on this whole time (car is hot) and when i turn the a/c off and the
>headlights off, the car runs better, stops blowing smoke, and VOLT light goes
>out after i rev the RPM's up..
>my alternator is a year old Bosch reman 90amp...and ive had my eurolights in
>for a year now, running the 80/100w bulbs, and never had a prob.  what do you
>think the problem is?  a bad voltage regulator on the alternator?  wiring
>problem??  the battery is fine.  can i move up to a 115 or 120 amp altenator?
>  is there one available for the 5kt? dealer sez only 90amp was available for
>that car.   any help appreciated, this charging system prob is driving me
>crazy and im tired of being stranded....
>thanks in advance
>chris
>'86 5kT
>pa (supposed to be 105 degrees tomorrow)