bad alt or bad gauge?

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12-31-2005, 01:27 PM

#11

willwren

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I believe the other gauges going wacky is a symptom of the root problem.....overvoltage.

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12-31-2005, 02:13 PM

#12

meechv

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I just got back from Napa, they said that the high voltage regulator in my current one was bad, but didn't do the leap to 18 for him. I was talking with the guy behind the counter, and he said that my gauges would go haywire when the volts jumped that high, and he said I was lucky every bulb in the car didn't burn out at once, like his buddy'* did. He also said that this was an unusual way for a GM one to go, more common in Fords.

One last warning he gave me was that maybe the harness has bad contact, and it'* burning out the voltage regulator, so to watch for that if I toast another alt. I'll be putting this one in soon, and taking it for a drive, so I'll keep everyone posted.

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12-31-2005, 04:58 PM

#13

banned3800

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I'm not sure what year it is that the Bonneville used a power source from the PCM to power up the fields in the alternator...

I think my 91 uses a 12v source when the ignition is turned on, once the car is started the voltage comes up tp 14v right away with no delay...

In my 95 the PCM supplies the power source for the field, and there is a momentary delay from the time the car is started untill the time the voltage actually comes up to 14v...

Anyone know what the 92-93 models do?

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12-31-2005, 05:38 PM

#14

meechv

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Well it seems to be working at the moment. I put the new one in, drove it around with defog and headlights on, and the gauge is hovering just below 14. It'* not that wet out at the moment, so I may take it out when there'* a lot of spray and see if it works consistently.

I'm hoping that this was a simple bad alt from Napa, and that it'* fixed now. I'm not so good at electronics, but if I plug it in and it works, I'm happy. This one didn't cost me a penny, either.