Voltage gauge
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36
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Voltage gauge
Can anyone tell me how to correct a dancing needle on the voltage gauge of my 1991 EB explorer.Its not a big swing back and forth but enough to be annoying,also when using the headlights and being stopped at idle the headlights will pulse or strobe slightly but at driving speeds you cannot notice this.The alternator has been replaced and there doesnt seem to be any grounding problems on the vehicle.What else could I check? By the way I have accumulated 237,000 miles on this 2wd explorer still on the original motor,transmission(with cooler),a/c compresspor,even the water pump is the one it left the factory with.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Cincinnati
Some have reported loose connector or corrosion on the 15A fuse that powers the regulator in the alternator. My bet would still be the ground connection between the engine and the car frame. You need to connect a digital voltmeter from the frame to the neg battery terminal. Anything above 0.25 volts indicates a problem. No excuise for not getting real numbers. Quite acurate digital voltmeters ate around for as little as $4.
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
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Thanks for the advice Opera House Works however I have checked out the 15A fuse and its connector and found no problems.I also connected a digital voltmeter between the frame and the negative battery terminal as you described and the reading was well below .25,more along the lines of .004 with no change motor running or stopped.I used a Fluke meter so Im confident the readings were accurate.Do you or anyone else have any more suggestions? Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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It could be the alternator you bought is not supplying enough power for the the voltage to stay the same, is it like this all the time or just when you have the heat or ac and headlight on? When buying an alternator you never want to skimp on the amps it puts out just to save a few bucks.....you always want to go with the higher amprage alternator, exspecailly if you start putting these after market parts in i.e. stereo system, fog lights driving lights, it all takes power
