Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:32:08 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Jowell <dennisjowell@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Jowell <dennisjowell@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine Ground voltage drop under load, please help diagnose.
In-Reply-To: <CY1PR20MB0029FB9E478820788676D935A0FE0@CY1PR20MB0029.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
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Dennis
Would the grounding you are suggesting also be advised for an 88 WBX 2.2 engine?
Dennis Jowell
Scotch Hollow Farm
Newbury, Vermont
> On Sep 13, 2016, at 6:19 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> I would start by looking at the ground strap itself. Also, you may be getting miss lead so you also need to look at the B+ wire from the alternator to the battery. It is common for the this wire to see a significant voltage drop to being somewhat undersized and after all these years the conductors are going bad.
>
> Losing voltage with the system under load is normal. .5 volt just across the ground strap is high for just headlights and running load. Try replacing that ground with a 2 gauge wire. Also consider another ground at the alternator. I would suggest a 6 gauge for that one.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Christophe Guilbert
> Sent: Monday, September 12, 2016 1:08 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Engine Ground voltage drop under load, please help diagnose.
>
> I have a vanagon 1983 air-cool CA.
>
> I would really appreciate some help to diagnose my problem , even my mechanic does not understand it.
>
> Here is the story:
>
> My battery is new and read 12.6v . I have a new alternator which deliver 14V
>
> When the van idle I read 13.71V at the battery terminal. When I start lights and fan blower , I read 13.24V.
>
> I tried to check if I had any leak between the battery terminal and the alternator under load (lights and fan blower):
>
> For terminal + , I have none , well something like -0.1V
>
> For terminal - , not only I have -0.5V at the alternator level but also to any ground point of the engine, which is way too much ! ( I have -0.1V only if I am not under load)
>
> In order to remind how the engine is grounded , here is the pathway , from battery to the body using a ground strap , than from body to transmission front mounting using a ground strap, than from transmission front mounting to the transmission via metal contact and/or
> 3 bolts and stud. than from transmission to the whole engine.
>
> Trying to understand where my 0.5v drops come from , I checked if I had any voltage drop between the battery ground terminal and the ground strap terminal bolted to the transmission front mounting . I have none
> (-0.04v) . So voltage drop must happened between the transmission front mounting and the transmission or the engine. I plugged my voltmeter between the ground strap terminal going to the transmission front mounting and the engine (any points) and I found -0.45V.
>
> When I plugged my voltmeter between the ground strap terminal going to the transmission front mounting bolt and one of the transmission bolt (after making it bare metal), I got -0.35V. So the main culprit seems to be the connection between the transmission front mounting and the transmission itself. I removed the transmission front mounting , clean bolts ,studs, washers, any point of contacts, I make them bare metal, used deoxit D5 and di-electric grease before putting every back. I retest the ground voltage between the battery and the engine and I got -0.4V (instead of -0.5V) under load.
>
> From this point I don't know what to do and would appreciate any explanation and advices.
>
> I am thinking to reground the engine . If I quickly used a jump start cable to reground the engine , I reduce my voltage drop from -0.4V to -0.2V. I guess I can do better with a proper dedicated ground cable .
>
> I would rather avoid that option thought because I would like to fully understand what's going on first.
>
> Any though.
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> Chris
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