Strange Things
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 594
Likes: 194
From: Back in North Central OH
Strange Things
While not so strange, I pulled my top off to adjust the rear latch and found the set screw not so unsurprisingly stripped. I suppose there is no EASY way OUT of this. Now for the strange occurrence. I drove the car at night for the first time Friday evening. Lights appeared to work normally and vision was adequate. I noticed as I stopped at a traffic light, the headlight beam seemed to change to a downward focus. Same thing as I braked for stop signs. Once I began moving again the focus was normal. Is there some sort of sensor that causes the headlights to perform that way? It was not random. At every stop sign I stopped at, it was consistent. Yes, I read the manual but it shed no light (sorry) on my concern.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 2,338
From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
Checking the voltage is a good idea, but not from the gauge. Use the DIC. The OEM alternator can barely keep up with the rad fan at idle speeds. Add in the full headlighting system, brake lights, and HVAC fan, you are in a drawdown condition. You would likely notice a 2 or 2.5 voltage drop.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 1,166
From: Northern Wisconsin
1. Battery going bad
2. Alternator going bad
3. Someone may have messed with the pulley size of the harmonic damper and/or alternator.
The stock alternator is marginal anyway, so it will be sensitive to any extra load or system deficiency.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 2,338
From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
Yes, and to make the situation worse, not only is the alternator struggling at idle speeds to keep up, but as it gets heat soaked, its internal resistance increases, so its output drops even more. A double whammy.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 594
Likes: 194
From: Back in North Central OH
Funny. I was getting a bearing noise when I first bought the car a couple of months ago. I bought a new alternator but the other one stopped making noise and seemed to be consistently above 14 volts during the days I drove it. I've been driving around with the new one stored in the back well in case of failure. Maybe it's time...
