TECH TIP FOR MAY, 1994

FIRST THINGS FIRST AS OF ABOUT MAY 15,1994, WE WILL BE A LOCAL MINI WAREHOUSE FOR INTERSTATE BATTERIES. IN THE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN INTERSTATE AND BRANTFORD STARTER, ANY CUSTOMER OF INTERSTATE'S, WHO RUNS SHORT OR NEEDS A BATTERY, THEY DON'T NORMALLY STOCK, WILL BE ABLE TO "BORROW" IT FROM US (PROVIDED WE HAVE IT.).
 ALL YOU WILL HAVE TO DO IS COME HERE, PICK UP THE BATTERY AND SIGN THE RECEIPT. WHEN THE ROUTE MANAGER COMES BY, HE WILL REPLACE THE BATTERY INTO OUR STOCK AND CHARGE YOU FOR IT. WE HOPE THAT THIS SERVICE IS BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED, AND FEEL IT IS A WIN, WIN SITUATION.

WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU BE PATIENT AT THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT NUMBERS OR QUANTITIES TO STOCK, SO EVERYTHINGIS A GUESS, BUT WE WILL BE KEEPING TRACK.

FORD TEMPO & TOPAZ CARS FROM ABOUT 1986 ON, CAN COME WITH EITHER A FORD OR A MITSUBISHI ALTERNATOR. ON THE MITSUBISHI VERSION,SOME OF MY REBUILDER FRIENDS ARE REPORTING AN OVER CHARGE SITUATION WHICH AT FIRST IS USUALLY BLAMED ON ALTERNATOR, BUT REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR DOESN'T CURE THE PROBLEM.

IN THE SMALLER OF THE TWO PLUGS THERE IS A WIRE LABELLED "S", WHICH STANDS FOR "SENSE". YOU SHOULD SEE FULL BATTERY VOLTAGE AT THIS POINT, IF NOT, WHAT IS HAPPENED, IS THAT THE FUSIBLE LINK HAS OPENED, AND THE REGULATOR THINKS THE BATTERY IS REALLY LOW AND TURNS THE ALTERNATOR TO FULL OUTPUT TO COMPENSATE.

HERE ARE THE FACTS YOU FIND THE ANSWER:
VEHICLE:1988 DODGE FULL SIZE VAN, 5.2L (318 CID), AUTOMATIC, A/C, EQUIPPED FOR DUAL FUEL (PROPANE & GAS), NIPPONDENSO STARTER, CHRYSLER 50/120 ALTERNATOR.

COMPLAINT: SLOW CRANKING, RUNNING POORLY WITH A LOSS OF POWER, LIGHTS ON PROPANE INDICATOR PANEL ALTERNATING BRIGHT & DIM, AND HEADLIGHTS FLUCTUATING WITH THE ENGINE RPM.

HISTORY: ALTERNATOR QUIT CHARGING ON TRUCK, BUT WORKED FINE ON THE TEST STAND. CUSTOMER WAS RELUCTANT TO SPRING FOR A NEW COMPUTER, AND WE INSTALLED AN EXTERNAL REGULATOR. CUSTOMER FELT THAT AS THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING SO POORLY THE LOSS OF COMPUTER INTERFACE WOULDN'T MATTER. HE WAS RIGHT.

FINALLY HAD A COMPLETE NO START. WHEN HE TURNED THE KEY, HE HEARD A LOUD CHATTER FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BUT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THEY DID NOT DIM AT ALL. HE DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY VOLTAGE WAS AT 12.5, AND CAME IN FOR A NEW STARTER.

WITH THE NEW STARTER IN PLACE, NOTHING CHANGED, ALL HE GOT WAS THE LOUD CHATTERING SOUND. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SEEMED TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY.

THE CUSTOMER WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO SOLVE THE NO START AND AS A MATTER OF FACT THE SOLUTION ENABLED HIM TO REHOOK HIS COMPUTER UP TO THE ALTERNATOR. THE TRUCK NOW WORKS ABSOLUTELY PROPERLY. BUT HOW DID HE CURE IT??(ANSWER IN NEXT MONTH'S TECH TIP).

DID YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU CUT YOUR PRICES 10%, YOU HAVE TO SELL 48% MORE TO MAKE THE SAME PROFIT. IF YOU CUT PRICE 20%, YOU HAVE TO SELL 300% MORE. A WISE MAN ONCE SAID " IF YOU CAN BUY THE CUSTOMER, SO CAN ANYONE
ELSE".