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IDIOT lights fixed, but still have questions about the coil 200 1984

posted by  streetdreams on  Tue Sep 2 06:13 CST 2003
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last visit: Thu Sep 18 18:27 CST 2014
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Thanks for everyones advice. I tracked down the bad ground and wired up a "Hot Earth" setup. Replaced the battery cables and also ran new larger guage ground wires throughout the engine compartment. The idiot lights still come on and stay on when I first start the motor, but after I rev it up once they go off and stay off. I guess this is working now. The alternator may be getting weak in it's old age. I'll deal with that if it breaks some day.
My main question is about the current to the coil. First there is no + or - on it. Just a #1 and a number that looks like #15. #15 is hot and has a constant flow when the ignition is on. #1 is was not hot when disconnected, but when plugged in to the coil shows a pulsating current on my test light only when the car is running. Is this right? I left it alone for now.
I thought one side should always be grounded. Is there something wrong, the car runs fine like it is now.
Ben








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    IDIOT lights fixed, but still have questions about the coil 200 1984

    posted by  B.C. on  Tue Sep 2 20:02 CST 2003
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    last visit: Wed Mar 28 22:28 CST 2012
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    The idiot lights should go off right quick after the engine starts. If not, you may have failing brushes. It's right after starting that the load on the alternator is quite high, and too-short brushes are unable to meet the demand.

    Continued use this way can allow arc-ing between the brushes and slip rings, and the rings get eaten away - killing the alternator.

    Hope this helps,

    Bob

    :>)








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      IDIOT lights fixed, but still have questions about the coil 200 1984

      posted by  streetdreams on  Wed Sep 3 05:25 CST 2003
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      last visit: Thu Sep 18 18:27 CST 2014
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      I thought that the alternator may be going. It's been raining and the alternator belts have beeen slipping even though I have 2 new belts on it. Fortunately I've got an extra alternator.
      Thanks Ben








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    IDIOT lights fixed, but still have questions about the coil 200 1984

    uid 5008's pic
    posted by  Colin UK on  Tue Sep 2 07:25 CST 2003
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    That`s how the coil works, the flashing on your test lamp is the power stage switching the #1 terminal to ground to trigger the coil to spark.
    This is also how non-electonic systems work except they use points to do the switching.
    Colin.







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