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Commutator Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Wed, 20 Jun 2001 12:56:59 In Reply to: Might not be the voltage regulator, WASSAAB, Wed, 20 Jun 2001 12:30:12 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
The brushes rub on the commutator, a series of metal contacts on the armature of the alternator. If the brushes wear down a lot, the commutator starts to pit. Replacing the brushes doesn't clean up the commutator.
But frankly, if the light goes out with a little rev, it's not a big deal. The light being on means that the battery is supplying power to the car, and the alternator has come on-line. The alternator uses the battery current to 'jump-start' itself. Once the alternator starts producing current, the battery light goes out. The output of the alternator increases with engine speed. Sometimes the alternator needs to be turning a little faster than idle to start producing it's own current - once that happens, it regulates just fine down at idle. Usually this is due to a weak voltage regulator or worn brushes (or commutators), but sometimes it just 'is'. As long as the light goes out with just a throttle blip, and never comes on while driving, it isn't worth worrying about.
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