I have a new observation. I say observation, because it's not a problem as far as I can tell, but I find these little things interesting.

My ALT gauge needle seems to be pulsing, it appears to be a change from the way it normally acts. When I have the heater blower motor on, you can see it better. It only just started doing this a few days ago, e.g. normally when I have the heater on it holds steady. It only shows when I'm idling, at higher rpms, it holds steady due to the extra current hiding the symptom.

In this video, I have the heater on low, then click to high, then back to low, then off: http://s785.photobucket.com/user/67dart ... 5.mp4.html

Is this my ALT gauge going or is this the alternator starting to weaken or something? Just curious. The ALT needle usually jumped around a bit, but not this regular pulsing I'm seeing now...

BG

Could be Alt or VR or bad connection etc.
I would poke around a little and see.
Frank

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Scrapple: Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
73 Duster - Race Car
66 Dart Wagon - DD
178" FED
82 D150
All Slant powered

If I had to guess, I'd say VR over alternator, but that's only because it seems like VR's quality is suspect more often...

I had completely rewired the engine compartment last fall, so I'm pretty sure all the wiring is sound. Just for fun, if I have another VR laying around, I'll swap it out and see if there's a difference.

bg

There is another thread about pulsating lights in the elctrical section, you may take a look at it to get some input.

Olaf

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Aspenized

If it helps, older Cessna airplanes will get pulsing ammeters also. They usually have a Ford style alternator. The aircraft alternator circuit includes an on-off switch in the power line (field) to the voltage regulator. (This month's Cessna Pilot Association magazine has an article on just this condition.) The fix for this pulsating condition in aircraft, and also my personal experience on aircraft, is usually to replace the switch with a new one (due to worn & arcing contacts), and check/clean all connectors and wire terminals. I think that in our Darts (74,75,76) I'd be cleaning terminals & spade connectors in the firewall plugs and especially on the instrument cluster printed circuit. Whenever I have a instrument cluster out, I always remove the ammeter stud nuts (one at a time) and clean the corrosion from the stud and nuts to get fresh metal for electrical connections. Also make sure the push-on connectors are tight.

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"Louise", a 1976 Dart Custom project, (now sadly reverted to being just an "organ donor" to our other project Darts.)

As mentioned in the other thread, the Piper Cherokee had a Mopar alternator setup, here is a very good, commmented article on everything you'll ever need to know:

http://flymall.org/aircraft/docs/Piper- ... System.pdf

Olaf

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Aspenized