First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List
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"One thing you can do (which is not highly recommended, but ...) is to
start the car and while it's running disconnect the negative side of
the battery to see if the car keeps running on the alternator. If it
continues running means that the alternator is putting some voltage
out (maybe the 10 volts you indicate)."
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Whatever you do, DO NOT remove any cables while the engine is running - this
may cause more damage! This is an old trick left-ever from the days of the
external regulator. The solid state internal regulators found in alternators
today cannot handle the spike created when the cable is disconnected. And the
alternator requires an external 12v source to create the field in the stator.
To find a short hook-up an ammeter as described earlier and while monitoring
the reading pull one fuse at a time from the fuse block. When the current drops
to 0 you've found the suspect circuit. Make sure you don't have any "always
on" [radio clock etc] circuits energized while performing this test.
HTH
PeteJD
[69 400]
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