Weird voltage issues (84 4kq)

[John Larson]

On 11:59 AM, John B wrote:
> Hey folks,
>
>
>
> Well Im continuing along with the 84 project. It was looking like I'd
> have to quit and sell the ol' girl but things have worked out (well,
> space that is!).
>
>
>
> About a month back my alternator tapped out and left me on battery power
>   to get home. I replaced the alternator, belt, and battery, cleaned up
> all the connections, rechecked belt tightness once ran and Im still
> having a weird voltage issue when driving (which werent there prior to
> my old alternator dieing)
>
>
>
> At idle (or revving with no load on the motor, in neutral) voltage is
> fine. All lights are nice and bright. As soon as you put a load on the
> motor (begin to drive in first gear) you can see all of the lights
> (including my headlights and tail lights) dim. Again in neutral, I can
> rev to 4k rpm and have no dimming. When driving this morning I was able
> to narrow down the symptoms to as follows:
>
>
>
> Idle or neutral, voltage OK with minimal flickers (if you blip the throttle it'll flicker just slightly)
>
> starting off the line, lights dim as if there is a big draw
>
> When in gear, if feathering the throttle down the highway the lights are
>   bright. Give a touch more gas to hold at say 65mph and the lights all
> strobe slightly (dim, bright, dim, bright, etc), and if giving it the
> beans (WOT) the lights dim again as if there is a big draw.
>
>
>
> Cant seem to figure this one out.. again all components are new, but I
> did notice my old alternator had only 2 connections (small wire to small
>   post, and BIG wire to big post). The new alternator had the same posts
> but also had a "B" connection on the back of it which I had no wire for.
>
>
>
>
> Wrong alternator? Horrible ground somewhere? Insight greatly
> appreciated! Im in the SF Bay area and am worried if I drop it at a
> local shop I'll get destroyed on labor.
>
>
>
> Johnny
>
> Pre95 		 	   		
Sounds to me like you bought your replacement alternator from a mass 
marketer.  I use ONLY genuine Bosch reman alternators and starters, and 
find the incidence of weirdness is minimal.

John