Weird voltage issues (84 4kq)

[John B]

John,
The alternator I purchased was from AutoHausAZ, original Bosch. I too am picky about the parts I use...
Johnny 

> Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 08:01:35 -0800
> From: john at westcoastgarage.net
> To: pre95 at live.com
> Subject: Re: Weird voltage issues (84 4kq)
> CC: quattro at audifans.com
> 
> 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
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