Ag1753
'69 Cuda Fastback
When I use my turn signals, the alternator gauge pulsates. It moves about an 1/8 of an inch. (It looks like a heart beat.) It stops when I stop using the signal. What gives?
Mopar Chevy Ford? What year? Would helpWhen I use my turn signals, the alternator gauge pulsates. It moves about an 1/8 of an inch. (It looks like a heart beat.) It stops when I stop using the signal. What gives?
Wow! Clear, precise, and polite explanation. THANKS, definitely bookmarking this so my son can read and understand his car a little better! Sometimes kid's need to hear it from someone other than their old man !The gage Chrysler labeled 'alternator' is a two directional ammeter.
It shows current flowing to or from the battery.
See where it is located in the circuit?
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C = Charge, D = Discharge.
The range is 40 amps to 40 amps. Centered is zero amps.
If you notice the car is running on battery all the time, then the alternator isn't working. So in a roundabout way it is an alternator gage.
As the turn signals draw current from the battery, the needle moves.
Now here's the tricky part. We commonly call these 12 Volt systems and we commonly describe the power source as the battery.
In reality, there are two power sources:
The Battery which when fully charged is around 12.8 Volts
An Alternator which when running is regulated to supply power around 14 Volts.
When a circuit is turned on, Electricity flows from the highest voltage power source.
At idle speed the maximum an alternator can output is significantly less than at higher rpms. So sometimes at idle power has to come from the battery.
So what you are seeing could be normal, say at idle with headlights on, or
it may indicate an alternator with weak output or a poor connection in the output line.
Mattax is a bit of a unicornWow! Clear, precise, and polite explanation...
ya, could be the alternator is barely enough at idle or a dodgy connector anywhere in line. you can use a meter and start taking volt reads to look for a voltage dropI had that issue. After I replaced my front lighting and engine harness, and replaced the female connectors on the dash side for the Fusible link and alternator, it stopped.
And this is abby normal, because, why?When I use my turn signals, the alternator gauge pulsates. It moves about an 1/8 of an inch. (It looks like a heart beat.) It stops when I stop using the signal. What gives?
And while it could be in response to the power demand of the turn signals, two factors make it unlikely. One is that especially with headlights on, brakes on, at slow idle the regulator points are probably at the full flow position
Its nice to be useful! LOLBoy Matt I'm glad you posted. Made me go back out to my car and found I left the lights on!
Not taken in a negative way at all. We're all just trying to figure out what best explains what we see.Not arguing here. Just noting what I see.
How do you know if you have a "dual field alternator"?This old dodge did the same thing. I updated it to the dual field alternator. Easy Peasy. They even make a bracket so you don't have to drill new holes. Add one wire. Lights are now bright at idle and ampmeter is steady. The owner was happy.
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What do you mean sometimes!Wow! Clear, precise, and polite explanation. THANKS, definitely bookmarking this so my son can read and understand his car a little better! Sometimes kid's need to hear it from someone other than their old man !