Fwd: Electrical Woes...Everone please help if you can

[Sandy Duffy <sandyduffy@home.com>]

>Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 19:25:50 -0800 (PST)
>From: MICHAEL SHERIDAN WILLIAMS <daserde@ucla.edu>
>Subject: Electrical Woes...Everone please help if you can
>To: quattro@coimbra.ans.net
>Sender: owner-quattro@coimbra.ans.net
>
>Last week i got the voltage regulator replaced in my car, as the thing 
>went dead.  Yesterday, i noticed that when i was running the car it was 
>making this strange pulsating noise.  Now the volt meter in the car reads 
>up to 16 volts, and the lights flicker and so do the dash lights.  The 
>headlight switch got very hot...
>
>Now, i know that the normal volt output is supposed to be between 13.5 
>and 14.5 volts, so i know that 15+ constantly can not be good for the 
>car.  What do you all think that hte problem could be.  If it makes any 
>difference, i just recently replaced the steering pump...although i dont 
>know why that would matter.  Please help ASAP
>
Michael:

I sounds as if you have either a bad voltage regulator (even though its
new) or one of the diodes in the alternator is shorted.  From the pulsing
sound I afraid its a bad diode.  This usually means new alternator or at
least rebuild alternator time.  However, Stop driving the car until you
have it sorted out.  That high voltage with a sawtooth wave (if you have a
bad diode) can fry lots 'o very expensive stuff. You don't want to know the
price of.

Sandy