Re: stench of electrical burn and low charging now...help. - Saab 9000 Bulletin Board - Saabnet.com
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Re: stench of electrical burn and low charging now...help.
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Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Wed, 27 Mar 2002 15:19:54 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: stench of electrical burn and low charging now...help., shawn, Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:13:33
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The low voltage and battery light on means the alternator isn't putting out current. It could be the voltage regulator/brushes, but I doubt it. The failure mode of the VR or brushes isn't smoke and burn.

There are two wires off the alternator - a thin one and a thick one. The thin one connects to the battery light. Ground that wire, and the battery light will be on and the alternator won't work. But there isn't enough current through that wire to produce any reasonable smoke. Possible, but not probable. The thick wire goes to the battery. Ground that and you'll see LOTS of smoke, and possibly blow up a battery due to heating from rapid discharge. I doubt you have a short on the main battery cable.

That leaves the alternator itself. I can think of a few possibilities here - Short circuit between internal windings on the alternator, or blown diodes in the diode pack. Both can be diagnosed with an oscilloscope. Not a common tool for folks that don't have an electronics background, but I'll provide this link anyway:

http://www.haller.ws/volvo/alternator/

A decent automotive electronics shop can slap a scope on and diagnose the alternator.

Another possiblity is those bearings that got replaced a while back. If the alternator bearings sieze, the alternator will stop turning. Not only will this cause no charge and a battery light, but the belt slipping on the pulley will cause smoke.

My guess is you've got an alternator problem.


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