Re: IML: 69 Imp Dead Electrical

["Kate Triplett" <ad_ablurr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

<SNIP>Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 10:07:59 -0400
From: RandalPark@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: 69 Imp Dead Electrical
Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When the alternator fails, the car will generally run until the battery is too dead to keep it going. Based on what was posted, it sounded like this could have happened. This can cause the ammeter to show full discharge at a stop. It can also make the car die after switching on a major accessory.

Lately, I have also experienced total battery failure. A short had developed within the battery. Under this scenario, the car would run with a jump start, but very badly. The accessories were "hey-wire", and it seemed like everything had gone wrong at the same time (lights, radio, windows). I learned that the symptoms of this are especially peculiar on cars with computerized controls and digital readouts.<SNIP
<SNIP>

Bad grounding can also cause some very interesting conditions in solid state and digital readout items. I finally jerked the insipid excuse for a radio out of my daily driver to see if the antenna lead had vibrated out or was damaged. The digital display has ALWAYS read incorrectly - as in, if you tuned to AM 570 it would read 567, same thing on FM side; tune to 94.1 and it reads off a couple points. I found whoever installed the radio had put the ground strap on the radio, but never connected to to the car! A simple ground lead connected to solid metal, and the readout is now right on. Unfortunately the radio is still insipid......

Oh, and Paul, the term is "HAYwire", as in baling wire, the farmer's friend. I've used a lot of it - it's hard to find now, everybody bales hay with that plastic twine!


Kate Justet Triplett
Kate's Custom Gunleather
www.IrishHuntersandJumpers.com
Sultan, Washington
Proud mother of a soldier
and owner of "Lucille" 1968 Crown 


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