cheekychimp
Well-known member
Is this normal?
I have been chasing these gremlins for a week or two now and the situation is getting better but is not totally resolved. Replaced a 75 amp alternator with a 90 amp one, put on a new belt, realigned the belt by spacing the alternator pulley out a bit so it runs really straight. The new belt has been on a few days now so I'll take up any slack and tighten things down.
Car idles great during the day once it is warmed up. It idles a tad high (around 950-1000 rpms) but that is because we had to bump it up because as soon as I put the headlights on rpms drop south by more than 200 rpms making the car vibrate a lot.
Problem seems exacerbated when driving and coming to a stop when the rpms drop really low and then pick up. If the car sits at idle for any length of time with the lights on rpms steadily drop to under 800 rpms and the car starts vibrating. switch off the lights and the rpms pick up and everything smooths out.
Is the alternator still on the way out and not producing enough juice? It seems to be charging fine other than this. What is the correct charging voltage I should be seeing to assess if it is up to scratch?
If the alternator checks out okay, what is the solution? More grounds? Thicker charging wire from the alternator to the battery? These are 93 lights and had to be spliced into the existing harness. Any possibility this is causing a power leak somewhere? Would relays anywhere help?
I'm stumped on this but I need to find a solution because the car is a dream to drive during the day but at night it becomes a PITA if I have to stop anywhere.
Paul.
I have been chasing these gremlins for a week or two now and the situation is getting better but is not totally resolved. Replaced a 75 amp alternator with a 90 amp one, put on a new belt, realigned the belt by spacing the alternator pulley out a bit so it runs really straight. The new belt has been on a few days now so I'll take up any slack and tighten things down.
Car idles great during the day once it is warmed up. It idles a tad high (around 950-1000 rpms) but that is because we had to bump it up because as soon as I put the headlights on rpms drop south by more than 200 rpms making the car vibrate a lot.
Problem seems exacerbated when driving and coming to a stop when the rpms drop really low and then pick up. If the car sits at idle for any length of time with the lights on rpms steadily drop to under 800 rpms and the car starts vibrating. switch off the lights and the rpms pick up and everything smooths out.
Is the alternator still on the way out and not producing enough juice? It seems to be charging fine other than this. What is the correct charging voltage I should be seeing to assess if it is up to scratch?
If the alternator checks out okay, what is the solution? More grounds? Thicker charging wire from the alternator to the battery? These are 93 lights and had to be spliced into the existing harness. Any possibility this is causing a power leak somewhere? Would relays anywhere help?
I'm stumped on this but I need to find a solution because the car is a dream to drive during the day but at night it becomes a PITA if I have to stop anywhere.
Paul.