RE: IML: voltage limiter question

["Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>]

Well, I don't understand what is going on, but the pulsating voltage is
coming from something, and the wire to the tank sender is one place it is
supposed to be, so I suspect there is another voltage limiter somewhere else
in the vehicle.   The battery is hooked up to something, or else you would
not see anything (unless your meter is telling you lies.)

If you are seeing this with no battery hooked to anything, I suspect your
meter is fooling you.

Dick Benjamin

-----Original Message-----
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tim Durrer
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 9:33 AM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: IML: voltage limiter question

No, I don't have a battery hooked to the voltage
limiter. The limiter plugs into the back of the
instrument panel which has been removed from the car.
Just for kicks I probed the disconnected blue wire
that goes back to the tank and to my amazement there
was a pulsating voltage on it with the ignition on!

It just didn't seem to ring true with what I was
seeing on the wiring diagram to have voltage on that
wire when the limiter was disconnected and removed
from the car.

Tim

--- Dick Benjamin <dickb@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> All the voltage "limiter" needs to produce that
> pulsating voltage is 12
> volts on its input wire, and ground to its mounting
> point, so it must have
> those somehow, even though it's sitting on the
> floor.  
> 
> You do have a battery hooked to it, right?  
> 
> If not, consult your local magician for the secret -
> you may have a source
> of perpetual motion staring you in the face.  Apply
> for a patent, quick!
> 
> Dick  (Electrical problems: I love them too, but
> some are truly confusin',
> even to me, and I've been chasing electrons around
> the block for many, many
> years).
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Tim Durrer
> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 6:43 AM
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: IML: voltage limiter question
> 
> Thanks, for your reply Dick.
>  So why am I getting the pulsating voltage on that
> blue wire with the instrument cluster and voltage
> limiter out of the car sitting on the floor of the
> garage?
> 
> I love electrical problems!
> 
> Tim Durrer
> 
> 
> --- Dick Benjamin <dickb@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > The pulsating voltage is correct, that is the way
> > the voltage "limiter"
> > works. Its job is to produce approximately 5 volts
> > (average) to operate the
> > gauges, so it puts out 12 volts for about 42% of
> the
> > time, and 0 volts for
> > 58% of the time, that is what makes your meter or
> > test light show a variable
> > voltage. Since the gauge display units are heat
> > operated, they don't react
> > quickly enough to be bothered by the pulsating
> > voltage.  
> > 
> > The situation you describe is what it should be,
> > except that when you put
> > the dash back in, something connected to the
> > pulsating voltage wire is
> > coming in contact with bare metal, somehow.
> > 
> > Dick Benjamin
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf Of Tim Durrer
> > Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 5:08 PM
> > To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: IML: voltage limiter question
> > 
> > Hello all, I am also having gauge problems on my
> 73.
> > I
> > have read all the information on the website,
> > studied
> > the FSM and have concluded I also have a faulty
> > voltage limiter. My problem started when the fuel
> > gauge moved past full and the fuse protecting the
> > gauge circuit blew. Upon replacing the fuse, it
> blew
> > again in a matter of seconds followed by a small
> > puff
> > of smoke out of the top of the dash. I have pulled
> > the
> > instrument panel completely out of the car and I
> am
> > awaiting the delivery of the part.
> > 
> > My question: The blue wire that was attached to
> the
> > back of the fuel gauge according to the FSM wiring
> > diagram goes back to the fuel tank sending unit
> > which
> > is grounded. Why does my test light come on and
> the
> > light pulsate on this wire when I turn on the
> > ignition
> > switch? In reading the wiring diagram, current
> > should
> > flow from the limiter, through the gauge to this
> > blue
> > wire, to the sending unit and then to ground. If I
> > am
> > reading this right why am I getting voltage on
> this
> > wire if the dash is completely out of the car?
> Could
> > I
> > have a short somewhere else? Incidentally, the
> fuse
> > now holds with instrument panel out of the car.
> > 
> > Help!
> > 
> > Tim Durer
> > 73 Lebaron
> > 
> > --- stephen dilley <stephendilley@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> > 
> > > 
> > > hi, i am back from a hot rod weekend here in in
> > the
> > > uk, whilst having 
> > > problems with failed gauges and high reading oil
> > > pressure- now smoke came a 
> > > wafting out of the indicator stalk hole on my 60
> > > crown. ??? still works 
> > > mind. the car is a star and wish to keep it so
> ...
> > > am using it for a wedding on saturday just hope
> > she
> > > dont go up in flames !!! 
> > > how do you get to the cluster??? for limiter?
> > should
> > > i just fit some remote 
> > > modern gauges and leave well alone ? back to the
> > > indicator smoke , wots all 
> > > that about? also i have a power drain somewhere
> > > which leaves a low glow on 
> > > the handbrake on light. unable to locate source,
> > so
> > > av bin removing battery 
> > > lead to prevent flat.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > best wishes, steve.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > >From: randalpark@xxxxxxx
> > > >Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >Subject: Re: IML: Stupid mistake NOW voltage
> > > limiter question
> > > >Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:23:34 -0400
> > > >
> > > >My experience on the voltage limiter has been
> > > solely on the 1960 through 
> > > >1963 models. I am not aware of the need for it
> in
> > > others being as great as 
> > > >in this group of Imperials. On 1960 through
> 1963,
> > > it is SUPER easy, and 
> > > >must be done to have working gauges.
> > > >
> > > >The limiter is attached to the back of the
> > cluster.
> > > The attachment point 
> > > >acts as a ground. The power input is connected
> to
> > > it, instead of the gauge 
> > > >with the limiter in it, the output is routed to
> > the
> > > first gauge with a 
> > > >jumper from the new limiter, and then to the
> > > remaining gauges with the 
> > > >existing wiring.
> > > >
> > > >I suspect that it is similar to install in
> other
> > > years, but the other years 
> > > >may have an external limiter to start with that
> > is
> > > replaceable. I just 
> > > >don't know. I haven't had reason to do it.
> > Outside
> > > of 1960 through 1963, 
> > > >the gauges in my Imperials have worked fine and
> > not
> > > changed their function 
> > > >in any way over time or with mileage. 1960
> > through
> > > 1963 have ALL required 
> > > >replacement of the limiter. This is a chronic
> > > problem for those cars. The 
> > > >problem has ceased to exist in the 1960-63
> models
> 
=== message truncated ===


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