TECH TIPS FOR OCTOBER, 1996

FIRST - TWO NEW PRODUCTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE:

1) A NEW ALTERNATOR FROM ROBERT BOSCH HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO REPLACE THE FORD IAR. THE IAR FORD IS THE ALTERNATOR THAT SUFFERS FROM TERMINAL MELT-DOWN/FIRE AT THE MAIN BATTERY PLUG. THE BOSCH  ALTERNATOR HAS SOME REAL ADVANTAGES; FIRST IT IS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORDS PRODUCED IN SOUTH AMERICA WHERE THERE ARE HIGHER TEMPERATURES AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THEM HERE. SECOND, IT USES A MAIN BATTERY STUD INSTEAD OF THE PLUG-IN SYSTEM WHICH SHOULD STOP THE "LET OUT THE SMOKE" PROBLEM, AND THIRD, IT IS A 95 AMP ALTERNATOR RATHER THAN THE 75 AMP WHICH WAS MAXIMUM ON THE FORD IAR.

AS WITH ALL GOOD THINGS, THERE IS ONE DRAW BACK AND THAT OF COURSE IS PRICE. TRADE IS ABOUT $300.00 WITH THE LIST BEING ABOUT $395.00. BUT, HAVING SAID THAT, IF THE REQUIREMENT IS THERE TO HAVE MORE POWER AND AVOID THE BURN.....

2) SEVERAL TIMES WE HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR SWITCHES TO SHUT OFF THE BATTERY POWER WHEN THE UNIT IS LEFT UNATTENDED.  WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SUPPLY THESE AT A PRICE THAT WAS WITHIN ANY RATIONAL LIMIT AND STILL OFFER GOOD QUALITY, BUT NOW WE CAN. WE HAVE, IN STOCK, A REALLY HEAVY DUTY SHUT OFF THAT OPERATES ON ITS OWN KEY. YOU CAN'T TURN IT "ON" WITHOUT THE KEY, AND YOU CAN'T TAKE THE KEY OUT IF THE SWITCH IS IN THE "ON" POSITION. THE SHUT OFF CAN HANDLE 200 AMPS CONTINUOUSLY AND SURGES OF UP TO 1000 AMPS. THESE THINGS WOULD BE GREAT FOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT, TRACTORS, BOATS OR JUST ABOUT ANY PLACE ELSE, WHERE YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DISABLE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH SOME DEGREE OF RELIABILITY.

IN THE LAST MONTH WE HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS OF 2 GM PRODUCTS WHICH EXHIBIT AN ERRATIC CHARGE RATE, OR INTERMITTENTLY WOULDN'T CHARGE AT ALL. BENCH TESTING BOTH ALTERNATORS REVEALED THAT THEY APPEARED TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY. THE FIRST ONE'S PROBLEM WAS SOLVED WHEN THE TECHNICIAN BUMPED THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE UNIT STARTED CHARGING. THIS LEAD TO A DIAGNOSIS OF AN OPEN INSIDE THE REGULATOR PLUG. WHEN I SUGGESTED TO THE SECOND TECH THAT HE TRY A NEW PLUG HE WAS SOMEWHAT RELUCTANT BUT AGREED. THE NEW PLUG SOLVED HIS PROBLEM AND REMINDED HIM AND US THAT THESE ARE CALLED A CHARGING SYSTEM OR A STARTING SYSTEM FOR A REASON.

HYUNDAI HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN THAT 1991 EXCEL/SCOUPE MAY EXHIBIT A "NO START" CONDITION, WHERE AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A BRIEF PERIOD WITH THE KEY OFF, IT WILL RESTART. HYUNDAI HAS RECOGNIZED THIS AS A VEHICLE, RATHER THAN A STARTER PROBLEM. THEY HAVE RELEASED A "STARTER HARNESS RELAY (PT#91401-24Q00" WHICH CONSISTS OF A RELAY, A WIRING HARNESS ADAPTOR & WIRE TIES. THIS KIT IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH HYUNDAI DISTRICT PARTS.

MAZDA B2000 PICKUPS - 1986/88 ARE SUBJECT TO A "NO START" WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO A POOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT THE MAIN FUSE BLOCK.

TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, MAZDA SUGGESTS THE FOLLOWING:

1) REMOVE THE MAIN FUSE BLOCK FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET.

2) CHECK ALL CONNECTIONS TO THE MAIN FUSE BLOCK WITH A TEST LIGHT AND A DVOM (DIGITAL VOLT OHM METER). ANY CONNECTIONS THAT DO NOT SHOW PROPER ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS SHOULD BE CLEANED,TIGHTENED, OR REPLACED AS NECESSARY.