If it is an ignition kill type alarm I would definitely disconnect it
completely and see if the problem goes away. These things are notorious for
causing phantom problems in the ignition system. Since you already know
there is something wrong with the unit because it is blowing fuses, I would
take it out of the equation. There is a way to test your alternator easily
if you have a good tester which can read amperage with a clamp on type
sensor. You check the output of the alternator in amps and voltage at
different RPMs with the lights off and on. I can look up the specs if you
like. I have them buried somewhere in the garage.
Chris Reichle
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From: mgs-owner
To: mgs
Subject: Ignition warning light won't go off!
Date: Sunday,November 24,1996 6:23PM
Hey y'all, got a technical question for ya. A week ago, when
it was raining pretty hard in California, my ignition warning
light went on. After spending 10 minutes under the bonnet,
playing with wires like I knew what I was doing, I could not
find something obviously wrong. At that point I was drenched
to the bone so I just got back into the B and kept on going.
I figured that since the headlights hadn't dimmed even a bit,
the alternator must have been working at least a little...
Anyway, my B got me home nevertheless... in fact she has got
me home everyday since then as if nothing is wrong. However,
the ignition warning light has stayed on, although under non-idle
conditions the light is only bright enough to see at night.
It does get brighter during idle. To add to the mystery, the 6-amp
fuse on my alarm kept on blowing during the week before the ignition
light first stayed on permanently...
Does anyone have a guess as to what is happening? Is there a way
to test the alternator to see if it is working 100%? Can someone
explain to me how the ignition idiot light works? I studied the
electrical schematic, and it seems that the light is simply connected
to the voltage regulator (which is integrated into this particular
alternator) and the ignition. I suppose the light goes on when there
is a voltage differential between the ignition and the voltage regulator?
Again, the car/electrical accessories have been working as usual so
I am perplexed!
-Felix
__________________________________________________________________
__ Felix Wong Palo Alto, California
|,\_O (415)528-9768 [pager]
( )/ LL http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~felixksw/
( ) '69 B, '92 C'dale 3.0 R (stiff, light, and FAST)
Fw = mg "Safety fast!"
|