RE: IML: Dipping Ammeter - 1972

["Steve Tenpenny" <10penny@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kenyon,
Have you thought to check the hold down screw (band) on the condenser in the
distributor? If it is lose, or cracked, you will get this same symptom.
Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of JIM LORENZEN
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 12:47 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: Dipping Ammeter - 1972

Hi Kenyon,

Due to moving my 94 year old mother in I've got way behind in my e-mails.
Your situation with your '72 sounds remarkably simular to the problem I had 
in my '79 Lincoln Continental Collector's Series. It turned out to be the 
internal voltage regulator in the alternator.  Since it sounds like you have

a regulator seperate from the alternator you'll get off cheaper than I did 
if that is the problem.  My alternator always checked out fine but from time

to time would kill the car sometimes taking the ECU with it.
Good Luck.

Jim L. in OR
    '60 Crown 4dr Southampton
    '62 Crown 4dr Southampton

PS   "gas money" coming to the site from me today.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenyon Wills" <imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "IML" <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 10:09 AM
Subject: IML: Dipping Ammeter - 1972


> The 72 is becoming more complete and I am driving it
> regularly now, so I am in the process of sorting it.
>
> Car has a new battery, rebuilt alternator, and new
> (solid state, stock) voltage regulator.  Wires seem
> OK, although they are originals.
>
> The socket where the loom goes into the firewall was
> cleaned with contact cleaner and solidly re-attached
> (or so I think).
>
>
>
> Problem:
>
> The ammeter dips regularly.  When it does so, the
> voltage drop is bad enough to stall the engine or at
> least make it stumble.  Killed the engine a few times.
>
>
> This engine stumble symptom is when the car is at idle
> and the alternator is presumably putting out less
> current or the engine does not have the momentum to
> keep going.  Above-idle driving is not obviously
> affected by the dipping, although it is still present
> on the gauge at the same rate.
>
> The dipping is displayed on the ammeter as the needle
> moving 15% down from a slight C to a slight D, almost
> like when the turn signal is applied on the older
> cars.
>
> The frequency is consistent for the most part, and
> happens perhaps every 30 seconds or so.  Maybe more,
> maybe less, but in other words it is repetetive but
> not so frequent that it seems tied to anything in the
> engine, as it is not affected by engine speed in any
> way - it's just more obvious when RPM is down.
>
> Also:  When lights are on at night, the lighting also
> dips concurrent to these pulses.
>
> It is not present when engine is off, so far as I
> know.
>
> Did I mention that I dislike electrical stuff more
> than anything else?
>
>
>
> 1.  How do I trace this or figure out why it's funky?
>
>
> 2.  Sound familiar to anyone?
>
> Kenyon Wills
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