On my EA81 hatch, what is causing the voltage meter to increase with the RPM's. Is my alternator on the way out? Or could it be something with my distributor? The brightness of the headlights and gauges vary depending on the RPM's.

Likely a bad voltage regulator - voltage should not go over 14.5 or so. Test it with a MM.

 

GD

Likely a bad voltage regulator - voltage should not go over 14.5 or so. Test it with a MM.

 

GD

 

It does have a benefit, last night when all these tornados came through i just drove a little faster to make my windshield wipers more efficient. I will check it out though.

Alternator went out last night, having it rebuilt tomorrow. The funny thing was I could put it in reverse and the windshield wipers would come on. Bad thing is, my headlights wont run on normal, have to be on bright. Any sugestions?

The increased voltage from the bad alternator may have burned out the elements in the sealed beams - no recourse for that but to replace them. I get them from the Junk Yard - $2 each!

 

Check the fuses as well - bad alternators can do horrible things to fuses.

 

GD

The increased voltage from the bad alternator may have burned out the elements in the sealed beams - no recourse for that but to replace them. I get them from the Junk Yard - $2 each!

 

Check the fuses as well - bad alternators can do horrible things to fuses.

 

GD

 

Checked fuses all of them were fine, it wont be too hard for me to find headlights. On the subject of fuses, what will happen if I run the car without the ECM fuse?

Update: Last week voltage regulator finally bit the dust last weekend. The straw that broke the camels back was when i put it in revers and the windshield wipers came on. Ripped the alternator off the next morning and too my utter disapproval it blew all four of my headlights. (I assume by too much output). So that was a good fourty dollars well spent.