TECH TIP FOR FEBRUARY, 1994

"RADIO SUPPRESSOR" : WHAT A MISUSE OF A TERM! THE PURPOSE OF THIS DEVISE IS LESS TO KEEP NOISE OUT OF THE RADIO THAN TO KEEP HIGH VOLTAGE SPIKES OUT OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF IMPORT ALTERNATORS COMING IN WITH, THIS LITTLE CAN FASTENED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSING, BUT NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING (BECAUSE THE LEAD ROTTED OFF).
WITHOUT A SUPPRESSOR, THERE IS NOTHING TO PROTECT THE SYSTEM (INCLUDING THE INTERNAL REGULATOR &/OR RECTIFIER BRIDGE) FROM THE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING SPIKES CAUSED BY THE WIPERS PULSING, THE HEATING OR COOLING FAN TURNING ON/OFF, THE POWER WINDOWS GOING UP/DOWN, OR THE USE OF ANY INTERMITTENT PIECE OF POWER EQUIPMENT IN THE CAR.
THIS PROBLEM OF VOLTAGE SPIKES LOOMS LARGE WHEN YOU ARE BOOSTING A CAR AS WELL. I AM TOLD THAT ON SOME CARS, BOOSTING, WILL ACTIVATE THE AIR BAGS, AND NOW FROM THE NISSAN TECH NEWS (SEPT/93), COMES THE WARNING THAT, ON MAXIMA FROM 1982-93,BOOSTING CAN DAMAGE THE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES, CAUSING IMPROPER OPERATION. TO AVOID THE PROBLEM, REMOVE THE FUSIBLE LINK LABELLED, "P/WIND", FROM THE FUSE BOX IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE BATTERY.
AS A FRIEND OF MINE HAS JUST POINTED OUT IN HIS MONTHLY TECH TIP TO HIS CUSTOMERS, "IF YOU LEARN IT THE HARD WAY, YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. BUT THE EASY WAY IS A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER."
ON HYUNDIA EXCEL X2 FROM START OF PRODUCTION TO SEPT/91 & SCOUPE FROM START OF PRODUCTION TO N0V/91, YOU MAY HAVE CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN OF AN INTERMITTENT "NO START". THE CUSTOMER WILL PROBABLY DESCRIBE THIS A "THE ENGINE WON'T CRANK" OR "THE SOLENOID JUST CLICKS, BUT IF I TURN THE KEY OFF AND WAIT A LITTLE IT STARTS PROPERLY". THIS IS USUALLY DIAGNOSED AS A BAD STARTER OR SOLENOID, WHICH INDEED IT MAY BE, BUT IN A HYUNDAI SERVICE BULLETIN DATED APRIL/93 A PROCEDURE IS DESCRIBED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING A "NO START REPAIR KIT", P/N 91401-24Q00.
INCLUDED IN THIS MONTH'S TECH TIP IS A HAND©OUT FROM BOSCH ON SOME OF THEIR PRODUCTS, AND WE SUGGEST THAT YOU PUT IT IN YOUR BINDER WITH THE REST OF THE TIPS. YOU REMEMBER THE BINDER? ITS THE ONE WE GAVE OUT AT THE SEMINAR IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH OF COURSE EVERYONE IS KEEPING UP TO DATE!  YAH RIGHT!!