1982 'lazy' alternator......
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 847
Likes: 4
From: Atlanta
1982 'lazy' alternator......
This might not be a Vette-specific question, but it's happening on my vette so I'll consider it Vette-related.
Recently, seemingly out of nowhere, my alternator seemed to stop charging. It's an AC Delco reman that I put on about a year ago. I should clarify.....when I first start the car the alternator (as measured by the voltage gauge in the car, which previously was pretty accurate) falls to the lower side of 13 volts. If I gun the throttle a little, get the rpm's up for only a second, the gauge moves higher.....closer to the 14 volt area that it typically shows.
The only thing that I've done in the past few weeks is throw a 2 amp trickle charger on it one night to charge the battery.
Has something affected the alternator's regulator? They're not that expensive so no big deal to replace with another one. Just odd that it starts out not charging then, after a quick throttle gun it operates like normal. Am I missing something about the functional operation of an alternator?
Thanks,
Mark
Recently, seemingly out of nowhere, my alternator seemed to stop charging. It's an AC Delco reman that I put on about a year ago. I should clarify.....when I first start the car the alternator (as measured by the voltage gauge in the car, which previously was pretty accurate) falls to the lower side of 13 volts. If I gun the throttle a little, get the rpm's up for only a second, the gauge moves higher.....closer to the 14 volt area that it typically shows.
The only thing that I've done in the past few weeks is throw a 2 amp trickle charger on it one night to charge the battery.
Has something affected the alternator's regulator? They're not that expensive so no big deal to replace with another one. Just odd that it starts out not charging then, after a quick throttle gun it operates like normal. Am I missing something about the functional operation of an alternator?
Thanks,
Mark
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
If its working with the engine up off of idle your probably ok. What might be happening is 1 diode may have opened up. That would reduce the output current capacity a bit but not enough for the alternator to die, it would just show low voltage at idle. The regulator can make up for the 1 inop circuit with the other 2.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 847
Likes: 4
From: Atlanta
Thanks for the replies. Keeping the original alternator not important; I don't believe the one I replaced was the factory alternator.
Anyway, sounds like it's a pretty small thing. Once I start it, kick up the rpm's for a second, alternator does fine at idle. Maybe just a coincidence that happened when I put the trickle charger on it.
I've never replaced the diodes. If that's easy I'd give it a try. Otherwise may keep it like it is until I get motivated to swap it for another reman. This is a Delco reman so thought that would be a 'good' one. They can test it at the store so might let them do that.
Always something.......m
Anyway, sounds like it's a pretty small thing. Once I start it, kick up the rpm's for a second, alternator does fine at idle. Maybe just a coincidence that happened when I put the trickle charger on it.
I've never replaced the diodes. If that's easy I'd give it a try. Otherwise may keep it like it is until I get motivated to swap it for another reman. This is a Delco reman so thought that would be a 'good' one. They can test it at the store so might let them do that.
Always something.......m
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Check out this link for further info:
http://www.procarcare.com/icarumba/r...1.asp#Charging
Sounds like the alternator is slow to excite. May be as simple as a loose alternator belt or faulty electrical connections. If these are good; then yes, internal repair of alternator.
http://www.procarcare.com/icarumba/r...1.asp#Charging
Sounds like the alternator is slow to excite. May be as simple as a loose alternator belt or faulty electrical connections. If these are good; then yes, internal repair of alternator.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 847
Likes: 4
From: Atlanta
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