Re: alternator at idle

["Allan Jones" <teutonicgt@email.msn.com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Arman <armanmik@n-jcenter.com>
To: quattro@coimbra.ans.net <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 1997 12:22 PM
Subject: alternator at idle


>>When the engine is running, the alternator should be supplying the
>>electrical needs of the car, including the idle system. So why is it
>>that battery voltage would play a role?

>Because at idle, the alternator does not produce enough electricity to run
>everything - (generators are much worse).
>Once you rev the engine slightly, the alternator produces enough power to
>run all our power and heated doo-dads and charge the battery as well.

>If the battery voltage is low, something somewhere senses that and raises
>the idle slightly so there's enough electricity to keep everything lit up
>and warm.


    In my case, the "something somewhere" that "senses the battery voltage
is low and raises the idle slightly" is ME! The process of me starting my
C-GT and then looking down at a dim digital dash while a bright red battery
idiot light stares back at me until I rev the engine slightly has had me
wondering for years!
    ....What IS that faulty "something somewhere"? ....And where IS it?!?
....And is it worth replacing...or is my battery in need of replacing...or
is there a short somewhere? ....Now that I think about it....Screw It - I
have bigger problems and am completely capable of gunning my engine every
morning. So....please disregard ;-)
    Seriously, I would be interested in a simple answer(such as: a fuse, a
wire short at an EXACT location, an adjustment, etc.) if there is one for
this occurrence, but I have a feeling it will not be simple, but tedious
'short hunting-type' work.

Allan Jones
'86 Comm. Design Ed. C-GT