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Re: Voltage Problems

To: keith.tompkins@pei.aibn.com, triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Voltage Problems
From: DANMAS@aol.com
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 22:00:01 EDT
In a message dated 6/6/2001 9:41:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
keith.tompkins@pei.aibn.com writes:


> I own a 1973 TR6. I've had this electrical problem off and on for the past 
> year. I have my entire electrical system working except a bulb or two in 
> the 
> dash light gauges but my problem is with what I call "power surges".
> 
> While driving my entire lighting system will go dim. At the same time I 
> notice a significant drop on my voltage gauge. Maybe a few minutes later 
> things will return to what I call normal and the lighting system is bright 
> again. At this point the voltage gauge reads full charge. This back and 
> forth 
> dim to bright is continuous with random time changes between bright to 
> dim back to bright etc.
> 
> 

Kieth,

I would guess that you have an intermittant bad connection somewhere. As you 
bounce over bumps in the road, the connection becomes loose, then tight, etc. 
When the connection is loose, it is a hogh resistance, and drops more 
voltage. When it is tight, the resistance is low, and less voltage is 
dropped, leaving more for your lights. Since it affects both your voltmeter 
and your headlights, I believe your bad connection is at the "terminal box" 
on the main battery cable. These are exactly the same symptoms that Kerry 
Forres was having before his wiring meltdown. I believe it to be here, 
because this is the first place where your headlight wiring and your 
voltmeter wiring have a commonality, other than the battery cable and the 
alternator.

I would start here, and check those connections closely. This connection 
carries ALL of the current in your car, so you do not want a hot spot here. 
Pay particular attention to how the terminals attach to the main cable. You 
may need to replace the cable. This connection to the main cable was the 
cause of Kerry's fire. If this doesn't fix it, you may have a bad regulator 
in your alternator. 

Dan Masters
Alcoa, Tennessee

Triumph TR 250 - TR6 Electrical Maintenance Handbook:
     http://members.aol.com/danmas6/
Stuffing a V8 into a small British sports car:
     http://members.aol.com/danmas/
British V8 Newsletter:
     http://members.aol.com/danmas4/mgv8.htm

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