[alfa] GTV6 voltage

[Pottree@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 5/28/2004 4:52:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:
(Joe Elliott:) I took some voltage 
measurements and it seems like I have a significant voltage drop 
problem, much like last week's Spider discussion.  With engine not 
running, I see 12.0V at the big terminal block where the 8 gauge wire 
from the alternator meets the wires running to the battery and the 
fusebox.  Fuse #5 to ground shows 11.9V.  Fuse #6 (ignition switched) 
to ground shows only 10.4V.  With the engine running at 1000RPM (all 
accessories off) these numbers become 14.5, 14.2, and 13.0, 
respectively.  With all the accessories on at 1000RPM, these numbers 
are 12.1, 11.8, and 10.8. 
There's a drop, but I don't think it is as unusual as you do.  It's a 12v 
system and your battery should be holding at least 12.5v and charging at about 
13.6v.  Of course, with electicals running, there's more of a drain, and on an 
older car with tarnish buildup and terminal crud and who knows what else, you 
will have a lower reading.  But you have to have 12.5v to start the car, 
because that's what the computer needs.  If it starts, and everything pretty much 
works (for an older car) you probably don't have anything too unusual going on 
in the electrical dep't.  But if you have the car running w/ lights and turn on 
the wipers and the radio goes off, then you have a voltage drop you need to 
address.

Charlie
LA, CA, USA
84 GTV6
91 Spider
94 164 LS
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