Thread: 69 Chevy Woes
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  #4  
Old February 13th 05, 04:37 AM
Ralph D.
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"gfulton" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Comboverfish" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >
> > Ralph D. wrote:
> > > In-law has a 69 Impala w/327. He has two problems that he thinks are
> > > unrelated, but can't explain either. I think they are related... but

> > can't
> > > explain it nonetheless.
> > >
> > > Issue 1:
> > >
> > > This thing started blowing condensers at odd times (meaning no

> > pattern).
> > > Might take a day... might take a week... but sooner or later it will

> > blow
> > > the condenser. These are new, not used and the car runs and performs

> > rather
> > > well otherwise. They just up and quit.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Issue 2:
> > >
> > >
> > > 5 minutes after parking, the alternator light comes on. The

> > alternator light
> > > does not come on while operating nor upon turning off the ignition...

> > only
> > > about 5 minutes later. It does come on when the key is turned to on

> > before
> > > cranking, so it appears to function correctly. The Kicker... every

> > now and
> > > again this thing drains it's battery, but when testing has no spark

> > when
> > > striking a cable to terminal suggesting no grounded short.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Here's what I think... but what the hell do I know:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I think that when the engine is shut down with the points closed it

> > is
> > > letting the battery back-feed through the condenser somehow. I have
> > > absolutely nothing to support that theory except for a guess, and

> > have not a
> > > clue as to how I would suggest he go about pursuing that theory. And

> > forget
> > > anyone over there taking anything to a garage as they'd feel like

> > someone
> > > castrated the family jewels at the mere suggestion that among them

> > they
> > > can't fix every problem with every auto.
> > >
> > > Anyhow... They are going to drop a HEI distributor in it and deal

> > with the
> > > light separately, but I'm guessing they'll end up popping modules

> > next. He
> > > says he has another alternator around, but I'm wondering if there

> > isn't
> > > something external to it involved.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Suggestions?

>
>
> Had the old '64 Impala family car given to me after I got out of the
> service. 327 engine. Seems like I remember there was a large resistor to
> drop voltage to the coil and wired to the "run" position of the ignition
> switch. It was bypassed during start due the lower voltage applied to the
> coil from the battery voltage being pulled down by the starter. Most cars
> had this system in those days. Sometimes it was just a length of

resistance
> wire. You might check if someone had that resistor burn out on them and
> just bypassed it with wire. That would keep the voltage at the coil too
> high during run, causing it to pull excessive current, which would result

in
> a higher current also at the condensor. As far as the alternator light,

my
> only thought is a bad alternator with an internal short. Can you get
> another one somewhere from a friend to put on there and troubleshoot it?
> Hope this helps. Sure like to see the old Chevys on the road.
>


Hmmmmm... I seem to remember something like this, too... but I might be
picturing something else. Didn't this wire have a resister in a can about
5/16dia by about an inch and a half or so long dangling with another wire to
the same side of the coil? I might be thinking that because I *want* to
think that... so I'll have to go over in the morning or ring him or
something.


He says he has another alternator there somewhere, but I have to wonder if
the issue is external to it if he is not hammering alternators or something
in the process. That the light waits 5 minutes to come on suggests to me
that a capacitor or something is building a charge and then letting it go
and activating the light at that time... Condenser? It's just odd that they
are happening simultaneously... but I can't figure what path would allow a
back flow from the battery to the condenser.




Thanks for the replies so far, folks.





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