Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1999 13:15:04 -0500 From: Chris Ault <aultnopsamelnetworks.com> Subject: Re: Alternator problem?
Darrell Cross wrote: > > Told a friend that I've had trouble keeping the two-year old DieHard > battery charged in recent days. The 91 Saab 9000 manual says that the > idiot light will come on if the alternator is not delivering charging > power. Friend says that you can't trust idiot lights...in general, they > only come on if the things not working at all, not just if its > under-delivering a charge. > > Is this true for the Saabs? Don't think so. Simple circuit. Was able to drive my 99 for weeks with a faulty alternator and the alternator light on before replacing the alternator, by using a battery charger overnight. Under-delivering a charge and the idiot light was on. Simple test: plug a digital volt meter across + and - on the battery with engine off. Read V's. Start engine. Voltage should rise (by as much as maybe 3 volts). Now turn on the headlights and heater fan. Voltage should still be above your first reading with the engine off. Otherwise, the alternator is not delivering. Could be as simple as the voltage regulator, the brushes on the v-reg, or even the ground connector from the v-reg to the alternator body. Good luck, -chris
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