<VV> alternator failure oddball question

[Ramon Rodriguez III]

Everett,

     This is exactly the kind of information I was hoping for, thanks so
much!  I have now discovered that as I suspected the Alternator was not
charging on my way home... which caused low voltage as the battery ran down
and very likely my moment of ignition loss.... this is a big relief.

     I swapped on another alternator today and found that it still wasn't
charging.  Next place I looked was the voltage regulator (also fairly new)
and discovered that somehow the 4-plug connector had become loose... just
enough that it wasn't working properly.  I cleaned the connector, got it
plugged in nice and tight (and the clip set) and everything seems fine now.


     Maybe the strange noise was because the Alternator was free-wheeling?
Or perhaps the connection was making and breaking at a high rate?  I'll
check out that alternator before it goes back on a car anyway.

     As far as the screwdriver trick that is a great tip, but I have a
mechanics stethoscope =).  I use it primarily for checking bearings, my dad
taught me how to use it when I was in my teens.



Ray R.
Lake Ariel,PA

On Sun, May 22, 2011 at 1:53 AM, EVERETT WILSON <aircooled6 at prodigy.net>wrote:

> Ray,
>
> If the voltage to the pertronix drops below a certain level, it stops
> working. Sporadicly at first, then more and more often.  My 67 had this
> habit of stalling at random times, particularly if the ac was on.
>  Ultimately figured out that the battery had a bad cell.  The car still
> started, but with the load of the ac system and a hot day, the system
> voltage dropped below what the pertronix needs to trigger the spark.
>
> Im betting that the battery is getting low and the alt isnt keeping up.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
> Everett Wilson
> North Richland Hills TX
>
>