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electrical troubles, low voltage problem which 'fixed itself' after a 30 minute wait 200 1980

posted by  NatSmith on  Mon Feb 9 09:34 CST 2004
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Driving our 1980 GT at night the engine began missing. Turning off headlights the engine ran fine till I could stop. Parked, the engine idled OK with no lights, but when headlights were turned on the engine died. It seemed that low voltage was the problem, as the fuel guage read empty when tank was actually 1/2 full, radio stations reset, and the lights were dim and the engine would not crank.

After about 30 minutes, I tried again and the car started with no trouble and has run normally since then (except that the idiot lights no longer work). Alternator charges 13.8 volts, brushes are not too short and all the belts are fine.

What happened?

NatSmith








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    electrical troubles, low voltage problem which 'fixed itself' after a 30 minute wait 200 1980

    posted by  jkordzi on  Tue Feb 10 01:58 CST 2004
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    last visit: Wed Sep 12 02:43 CST 2001
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    I think it may be a loose connection on the back of the alternator or in the wiring from the alternator to the starter. It may also be a bad diode in the alternator, of the brushes ahve worn the slip rings to the point where they make intermittant contact.








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    electrical troubles, low voltage problem which 'fixed itself' after a 30 minute wait 200 1980

    posted by  porkface on  Mon Feb 9 10:54 CST 2004
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 09:12 CST 2014
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    bad ground at the alternator, the field wire from the cluster-did the idiot light come on-or the alternator itself. needs to fail again to be sure, then you can test everything, otherwise, you are chasing a ghost. good luck, chuck.







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