TECH TIP FOR MARCH, 1996

THIS SPRING SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE WILL BE CLOSED ON SATURDAYS. THIS MONTH, THERE IS ONLY MARCH 30, WHEN I WILL BE ATTENDING A SEMINAR IN OHIO (PROVIDING CANADIANS ARE STILL ALLOWED OR WANT TO CROSS THE BORDER), BUT IN APRIL WE WILL BE CLOSED ON THE 13TH (YOUNGEST SON IS GETTING MARRIED) & THE 27TH, WHEN THERE IS ANOTHER SEMINAR IN THE US. I PUT A REMINDER IN THE APRIL TECH TIP.

WE RECENTLY HAD A CUSTOMER WITH AN INTERMITTENT CHARGE PROBLEM IN A 1991 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, WHERE THE CHARGE SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, AND THEN START TO CHARGE AGAIN AFTER BEING RE STARTED. TWO CHECKS OF THE ALTERNATOR SHOWED NOTHING, BUT, AFTER A NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED, AND DID THE SAME THING IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT IN THE ALTERNATOR. THIS VEHICLE HAS A GAUGE PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES A "GAUGE CONTROL MODULE", AND IT WAS THIS MODULE WHICH WAS CAUSING GRIEF, AS IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY INTERRUPT THE POWER TO THE REGULATOR TURN-ON. FINDING THIS PROBLEM TOOK A LOT OF TIME, EFFORT AND PATIENCE ON EVERYONE'S PART.

SINCE THE MODULE IS NOT REPLACEABLE WITHOUT PUTTING IN A COMPLETE FACTORY REBUILT DASH (COST ABOUT $425.00), THE TECHNICIAN BY PASSED THE MODULE AND THE ALTERNATOR CHARGES PERFECTLY. BY PASSING THE MODULE TURNS THE "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT ON FULL TIME, BUT BULB REMOVAL PUTS AN END TO THAT.

THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE COMMON IN THE FUTURE, WHERE A RELATIVELY SIMPLE SYSTEM IS CONTROLED OR MODIFIED BY SOMETHING ELSE. DIAGNOSIS IS NOW A HUGE JOB, WHICH HAS TO BE DONE SYSTEMATICALLY AND CAREFULLY EVERY TIME. THE CUSTOMER'S ARE GOING TO HAVE BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT FREE. PARTICULARILY IF THE MANUFACTURERS ARE AND REMAIN RELUCTANT TO SHARE TECHNICAL INFORMATION.

THE FOLLOWING IS SECTION 2 OF THE FORD IAR CHARGING AND TEST PROCEDURES, THE THIRD AND FINAL SECTION WILL COME NEXT MONTH.