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71 142e alternator/generator charging- low voltage question 140-160

posted by  jwhorto on  Mon Jan 30 13:20 CST 2006
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last visit: Fri Sep 2 12:03 CST 2011
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Hi guys,
I drove from Boston to Albany last week (about 4 hours each way) and I was on the Mass Pike and noticed the start of the problem. I ran the headlights all the way to Albany, as it was early. Everything was going normal for the 71 142e that day. Just a nice smooth ride as I sipped my coffee on the way to the Albany office.

Then, I noticed that the tach was acting strange, bouncing up and down- not in sync with actual RPMs. I noticed that the turn signals stopped working as I changed lanes. Hmmm…. I drove on.
Then, the tach came back to normal for a while, and so did the turn signals. I made it to the office and went on in as normal.
I came out after a day of work to find my battery low and weak. I got a jump start with the cables that I carry in my trunk, and she started up just fine.

It was almost dark when I started my trek back to MA. My headlights became dimmer and dimmer, until is was ALMOST unsafe to drive. I stopped at a gas station, and sure enough it would not start after I turned it off. However, it WILL run with the battery disconnected. I got ANOTHER jump and drove on home. When I pulled in, I checked the battery voltage and it was 11.4 volts. This is the reading both WITH and WITHOUT the battery connected. The battery read about 11 volts when standing alone- disconnected.

I thought the battery was bad. I put in a different battery that I knew to be good and it was fully charged from my new craftsman charger. –a 2 day charge on 2 am slow charge.
So, I drove the thing to work today- about 100 miles round trip.
On the way home, I ran the headlights and they got dimmer and dimmer on the way. I pulled into the house and shut the engine off. Sure enough- not enough battery to run it. I believe the situation is as this:

The alternator/generator seems to only put out 11.4 volts- not charging the battery, but giving enough power to ‘sort of’ run the car without a battery.

Can you comment on my diagnostics? Where is my problem?

Thanks in advance guys,

Jeremy
--
71 142E and a yard full of 240's in Mass.






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