TECH TIP FOR JANUARY, 1997

FIRST I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND I WISH YOU ALL (& ME TOO) A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

AS A RESULT OF A COUPLE OF CUSTOMER REQUESTS I NOW HAVE AVAILABLE A LINE OF HIGH OUTPUT ALTERNATORS FOR THE TRUCK AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY. I NOW CAN SUPPLY UP TO 250 AMPS @ 12VT AND 100 AMPS @ 24VT IN AN INTERNALLY REGULATED UNIT WHICH WILL WORK IN THE PLACE OF MOST DELCO, LEECE NEVILLE, & LOADHANDLER ALTERNATORS COMMONLY FOUND ON TRUCKS TODAY. THERE IS ALSO A 190 AMP @ 12VT UNIT EXTERNALLY REGULATED UNIT FOR FORDS IN THE LINE. ARE THESE THINGS CHEAP? NO THEY ARE NOT. ARE THEY WELL BUILT AND DURABLE? YES THEY ARE. THIS IS A LINE WHICH WILL SOLVE A SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND BECAUSE IT IS NEEDS SPECIFIC, IT IS NOT CHEAP.

I AM REMINDED OF A SIGN I SAW AT A CUSTOMER'S ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHICH READ, "YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CHOICE OF TWO OF THE FOLLOWING. CHEAP, GOOD OR QUICK"

THE COMPANY WHICH SUPPLIES ME WITH THIS NEW LINE OF ALTERNATORS HAS ALSO PROVIDED THE ATTACHED MATHEMATICAL ANSWER TO THE QUESTION " WHAT SIZE WIRE DO I NEED?", ALSO ATTACHED IS THE LATEST CARTOON WHICH I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS.

SOMETHING OF CONCERN, IS THE RUMOUR IN MY INDUSTRY, THAT BOTH A DOMESTIC AND AN IMPORT VEHICLE, ALLEGEDLY AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR WILL COME EQUIPPED WITH ALTERNATORS, BECAUSE 1 WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE ELECTRICAL LOADS.

I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU RECEIVE THE "AUTOMOTIVE PARTS & TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE", IT IS FREE AND VERY INFORMATIVE. YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE BY CONTACTING THEM AT, P.O. BOX490(STN B), ETOBICOKE, M9W 5L4; PH (416)614-8736. MAKE SURE YOU REQUEST A COPY OF THE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1996 ISSUE WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY FULL OF THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW.

THE "TECH" PORTION OF THIS TIP CONCERNS THE PRACTICE OF "BOOSTING", WITH A MODERN VEHICLE THIS IS AT BEST A HAZARDOUS PROCEDURE. IF YOU MUST DO IT, MAKE SURE THAT THE "BOOSTING" VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING DURING THE PROCEDURE. THE VOLTAGE SPIKEGENERATED WHEN THE "BOOSTED" VEHICLE STARTS AND ITS ALTERNATOR CUTS IN AT FULL OUTPUT CAN A HAVE VERY BAD EFFECT ON ANYTHING WITH DIODES OR PRINTED CIRCUITS.

IT IS ALSO TO BE NOTED THAT ON GM VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A CS SERIES ALTERNATOR, IF THE OPEN TERMINAL VOLTAGE OF THE BATTERY IS NOT 12 VOLTS OR VERY CLOSE TO IT, THE ALTERNATOR MAY NOT TURN ON AT ALL. NOW THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING IF YOU CONSIDER HOW HARD THE ALTERNATOR WILL HAVE TO WORK TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY AND HOW HOT IT WILL GET, AND WHAT HAPPENS TO CS ALTERNATORS WHEN THEY GET VERY HOT.....

FORD HAS ISSUED SEVERAL BULLETINS COVERING THE 2.2L ENGINE USED IN THE PROBE. TWO ARE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST. THE FIRST WARNS OF WATER ENTERING THE WIRING CONNECTORS UNDER THE HOOD AND PARTICULARLY THOSE IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR (WHERE THE BODY AND ENGINE COMPARTMENTS HARNESSES JOIN). APPARENTLY THESE ARE SUBJECT TO SHORTED &/OR CORRODED TERMINALS WHICH CAN CAUSE A DISCHARGED BATTERY, BLOWN FUSES, HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS,A/C & HEATER FAN PROBLEMS ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER LESS SPECIFIC ITEMS.A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THESE CONNECTORS IS ADVISABLE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THE SECOND BULLETIN WARNS THAT THE UNDERWOOD LIGHT WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY THE "HOOD LATCH MICRO SWITCH" CAN STAY ON DUE TO BINDING OR MISALIGNMENT OF THE SWITCH. THIS CAN CAUSED PREMATURE ALTERNATOR FAILURE DUE TO IT HAVING TO WORK TOO HARD OR THE BATTERY GOING FLAT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THE SWITCH IS ACTUALLY BUILT INTO THE UNDER DASH HOOD RELEASE MECHANISM AND IT MAY REQUIRE SHIMMING WITH THIN WASHERS TO ELIMINATE ANY BINDING. THE BULLETINS WARN THAT SINCE THE STATOR WINDINGS OF A NEW ALTERNATOR ARE USUALLY A BRIGHT ORANGE COLOUR IF THE ONE YOU TAKE OFF HAS WINDINGS THAT ARE BLACKENED FROM HEAT, YOU SHOULD BE CHECKING FOR ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER CHECKS.

THIS IS A BRIEF TECH TIP BECAUSE IT'S NEW YEARS DAY AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING ANY MORE. HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I PROMISE THAT NEXT MONTH'S TECH TIP WILL BE BETTER.