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The monitoring system is the charging system Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Didn't get stranded, but problem persists, techlectic, Sun, 3 May 2009 10:48:33 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
The battery light is an integral part of the charging system. An alternator is (kinda, sorta) like a generator, but a generator has permanent magnets. An alternator has electromagnets, and electromagnets need current to work. The electromagnets are called Field Coils.
When you first turn the key ON, current flows through the key, through the Battery light, and into the Field Coils through the D+ connection on the alternator, to ground. This energizes the field coils and creates a magnetic field. It also turns on the Battery light, because current is flowing through it.
When the engine starts to spin, it spins the alternator armature, and since there is a magnetic field,the armature produces voltage and current. When it is spinning fast enough, it is producing enough voltage that the VR starts putting current into the field coils. Since the VR is driving the field coils, the current in the Battery light drops to zero, and the light goes out.
So if the battery light comes on, it means the VR isn't driving the field coils, and the alternator isn't producing more voltage than the battery - the battery is now running the car, a bad thing.
The EDU and the battery light agree, so you've got a charging problem. Yes, most likely bad brushes, best fixed by replacing the VR.
posted by 76.231.241...
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