No Subject

[Alan Cordeiro <cordeiro@avlna.com>]

>
>	Did you notice the latest Chrysler minivan ads?  "The ultimate
>winter accessory - full time AWD"  I'd count that as a significant step in
>the right direction.  Mark my words, Chrysler will be the first American
>automaker to offer a decent AWD car in this country  :-)
>
>Later, ---------------------------------------------------------- 
>Graydon D. Stuckey 	'85 Mazda RX7 GS, no toys 
>graydon@apollo.gmi.edu 	'86 Audi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro, has toys
>Flint, Michigan USA	'89 Thunderbird SC, lotsa toys
>

As the co-owner of a '91 AWD Dodge minivan ( my wife has primary possesion %-)
I can say that for a MINIVAN, it has excellent traction. With good tires
( not snows, all seasons ) it gets up and GOES in almost all slippery
conditions. The 3.3 V6 does pull well, even with the weight of 3600+ lbs.
Got reasonable 4 wheel ABS too,(sucks at speeds below 10 mph,)
but it keeps the van from spinning out of control in panic stops.

But then again, this is the Quattro list, so....

1) regarding that intermittant speedo, Igor, I need the service bulletin too !!!
   everything works most of the time, but my odo will die, and the way to "fix"
   it is to drive at a higher speed than most other traffic on the road, hard
   to do in rush hour..... The speedo will occasionally show slightly incorrect
   readings, typically 10 MPH to 20 MPH below "correct" until I briefly hit 80 
   on thge speedometer, when magically everything "fixes itself". Its a minor 
   annoyance right now, any its too cold in my garage ( Michigan...).

2) I seem to have lost the Sylyania data book for now, but I remember 13.8
   as being the rated voltage. Raising by 10% reduces the life by 40%.
   Also forget the superimposed AC from having ANY EFFECT. the frequencies
   in concern are three phase ripple, typically 1000 hz AT IDLE, going up
   to 2000 or 3000 hz at cruising. The thermal inertia of the filament will
   not even see that at all. Also the ripple amplitude from a RAW waveform
   from a three phase bridge rectifier is less than 5%. The battery will then
   REDUCE THAT EVEN FURTHER. FORGET THAT ONE GUYS !!!!

3) Bentley specs the alternator ( Bosch ) as being between 13.x and 14.x, 
   whatever, the average is 13.8 volts or so.
   Chrysler uses a BOSCH alternator too, and specs it as averaging 14.1 or so
   at 50 degees F. So the Chrysler owners get brighter lights........
   I have tried to see if the regulators were interchangable, but have not
   completely proven that yet. However my REBUILT ALTERNATOR that I put in
   six months ago raised the "normal operating voltage" from about 13.8 volts
   to 14.1 volts. The alternator was re-built by "PRIDEMARK". bought it for
$120.
   It gave me a NOTICABLE improvement in light brightness.

Sorry for a late and rushed reply, but I'm real busy, sometimes get behind
on the
digest by three or four days.....

BTW, Dave, can you get me the number of the yard that has the rear light bar.
I have an '86 5kQ with one cracked panel. Thanks.

Alan