Date: 1 Jul 2004 18:47:20 GMT From: Dave Hinz <DaveHinznospamcop.net> Subject: Re: New to saab, sucks so far.
On Thu, 01 Jul 2004 14:41:06 -0700, Gemini Jackson <geminijacksonnospamail.com> wrote: >>"How to ask questions the smart way" - >>http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqa/smart-questions.html > > Dead link. 'faqs' rather than 'faqa'. >>Among other things, gives examples of what does, and doesn't work. >>Hopefully you'll read it instead of taking this suggestion as a slam >>of some sort. > > No slam taken. Here's this mornings update. I put everything I'd > taken off back on, (belt, air filter, wire to alternator) and charged > the battery all night on a slow charge. This morning it was sitting > at about 13.5v. Cranked 'er up, it dropped and held at 12.3v. You're not charging then. Should be, what, 14.6 volts when it's charging I think. > But it > did seem to be holding. The whole time the battery indicator on the > dash was displayed. Yup, it would be. > I've been open to it all along, but I am starting > to think that you're all possibly correct, that perhaps it is > something other than the alternator. But at the moment I'm at a loss. Three words: "Voltage regulator". >>Is the voltage regulator built into this alternator? Do you know the >>regulator isn't the problem? If it's the problem, even if it's in the >>alternator, it can be replaced separately without having to go through >>the hassle of removing the alternator. > > Yes it is. No I don't. And that's good to know. Alternators are a fairly basic electromechanical assembly. The voltage regulator and diodes are much, much more likely to be the failure point. Now, the VR might not be the _root cause_ of the failure, something else may have caused it to go. But, any decent automotive electrical place will be able to tell you if it's the VR or the alternator itself. (if they can't, then they're just parts salesmen).