First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List ......................................................................... Michael, Thomas and Gerrit, thanks for the additional tips. Today bought a voltmeter and used it on the battery. It read between 9 and 10. I took the alternator to Autozone and had it tested: as probably everyone reading this string knew, it was bad. I bought a new one (keeping the old one for future training purposes), installed it and recharged the battery. My son and I drove the car for about an hour. The battery gauge in the car initally read 11, but after 15-20 minutes it rose to 13 and stayed there for the rest of our trip. When the car idles the gauge drops to 11 and oscillates with the turn signal, but returns to 13 when we're driving 55 at around 2100 rpm. I don't think the battery was fully charged before we left. Gerrit, I haven't had a chance to follow your recommendations yet. I'm not sure I'm using the voltmeter right. The directions weren't clear. Does it sound like I still have a problem with the charging system? Again, thanks for all the help you've been to me. I appreciate you pros being patient with a novice like me. David
----- Original Message ---- From: Gerrit Dijkstra | RGP <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: First Generation Firebird-L <[email protected]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, August 2, 2008 3:40:40 AM Subject: Re: [FGF] 68 won't start First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List ......................................................................... Hey David, You probably have an electrical leak somewhere, maybe you can check the electrical circuit a bit by measuring amperes from the battery and do the following. Open the hood, ignition contact off., connect a amperemeter to the battery like this: --------| | + | -------+ Ampere meter between cable and battery +------ > electrical circuit | Bat | | - | ------> to chassis (no modification) |-------| A number biger than zero will prpbably appear on you meter, this is the amount of current flowing (away) while you're not driving the car. You now go to the fusebox at the driver's site foot and remove one fuse. Let someone else check the meter at the same time to see weather the number decreases. Put the removed fuse back and remove another one. Go through this one by one. See if the number on the meter changes a lot, if so - you are a bit closer to discovering the faulty circuit (maybe regulator?, horn relay? - check the diagram) If the number stays high all the time, the leak is somewhere between the fusebox and battery. Gerrit http://www.rgp.nl/bird ( http://www.rgp.nl/bird/misc/wiring_int.swf -- not complete, but parts of the electrical layout) Thomas R. wrote: > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > ......................................................................... > David, > > Your alt should read 13.5 - 14 at idle and above. O'Reillys auto parts (if > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submissions to Firebird-L: <[email protected]> Unsubscribe from Firebird-L: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Help: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/firebird/Firebird-L.html> Classifieds: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/ubb/> Owner Pictures: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/show/> Donations: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/store/cart.mv?999999> FGF Merchandise: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/store> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submissions to Firebird-L: <[email protected]> Unsubscribe from Firebird-L: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Help: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/firebird/Firebird-L.html> Classifieds: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/ubb/> Owner Pictures: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/show/> Donations: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/store/cart.mv?999999> FGF Merchandise: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/store>
