Explain this to me...

Richard Vyse

Richard Vyse

I used the Lifeliner in our local parade last night and it did great with the "Q" and other lights and sirens. After unloading at the funeral home and giving the car 30 minutes rest to cool off I started it up to head home only to discover my dash lights are now as bright as they should be, my turn signals blink faster and no longer drag, and the car seems to just run better.

It's like the parade with the "Q" operating forced the charging system to get in gear and brought those things up to par. I drove it in this morning and it runs outstanding.

I've always had real dim dashlights and super slow blinkers but not anymore!
 
A loose nut was tightened? The moisture that was inhibiting the conductivity of electrical neurons was driven out by the loud sound of the Q and the passage of the heat generated moved things around? You have a vivid imagination? Check with Russ... I am certain that he will give you the correct answer.
 
up the vibration of the Q rattled the roof enough that it broke loose the rust and now things are grounding again. the problem is not that it's started it will continue to brake up as you drive. the big question is did you ever twist the dial to see if the dash lights would dim or brighten? but I would bet the load heated up the ground cable enough to get a decent ground again. got to keep both ends of that cable clean
 
LeeAnn Boston said:
You know that saying, everything gets better before it dies, just kidding....:yankchain:
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You jinxed me LeeAnn. Driving home from the funeral home today I smelled something burning then the blinkers quit working. Turns out I blew an alternator belt which was a 5 minute repair. All working again.

John ED Renstrom said:
up the vibration of the Q rattled the roof enough that it broke loose the rust and now things are grounding again. the problem is not that it's started it will continue to brake up as you drive. the big question is did you ever twist the dial to see if the dash lights would dim or brighten? but I would bet the load heated up the ground cable enough to get a decent ground again. got to keep both ends of that cable clean
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Quite possibly true Ed. I did adjust dash lights and they did dim for me. Even the beacons all seem brighter too.
 
Richard, you comment reminds me of a question I had. I few weeks ago I drove my 70 combo in our local Tate Day Parade which I had done before with the red light going but this was first time I had the 28 siren hooked up and used it alot but not full time and near end of parade noticed car was acting up alittle from battery being low. Parade was about 30 minutes and never got past an idle but put in neutral alot and kept throttle up some. Was running head lights and one red light. After I drove about ten miles before shutting off and it started back ok but was wondering what can be done to keep this from happening? Bigger alternator? Has standard one not big ambulance type. I guess these cars were not meant to ride in parades anyway but go full bore down the highway which would keep charged up better.
 
Richard Vyse said:
You jinxed me LeeAnn. Driving home from the funeral home today I smelled something burning then the blinkers quit working. Turns out I blew an alternator belt which was a 5 minute repair. All working again.



Quite possibly true Ed. I did adjust dash lights and they did dim for me. Even the beacons all seem brighter too.
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Teach 'ya to post videos of me on the Internet, and threaten to round up more pictures........ Just remember that!!! :D I do try not to say "what if" anymore if it is in regards to something bad, because I went through the phase several years ago when I'd say "what if", it would happen. But, if I said, "what if" I won the lottery....well, the good stuff wouldn't happen!
 
Danny Ryder said:
Richard, you comment reminds me of a question I had. I few weeks ago I drove my 70 combo in our local Tate Day Parade which I had done before with the red light going but this was first time I had the 28 siren hooked up and used it alot but not full time and near end of parade noticed car was acting up alittle from battery being low. Parade was about 30 minutes and never got past an idle but put in neutral alot and kept throttle up some. Was running head lights and one red light. After I drove about ten miles before shutting off and it started back ok but was wondering what can be done to keep this from happening? Bigger alternator? Has standard one not big ambulance type. I guess these cars were not meant to ride in parades anyway but go full bore down the highway which would keep charged up better.
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Had the alternator on the 73 combo built up about 10 years or so ago buy a local fella that died about a year or so back. He used the standard 90 amp Delcotron housing but boosted up the Amperage to an output of about 140 amps. I've ran a number of parades with that setup and have had no trouble with voltage or power to anything. Been happy with it to.
 
Jeremy D. Ledford said:
Had the alternator on the 73 combo built up about 10 years or so ago buy a local fella that died about a year or so back. He used the standard 90 amp Delcotron housing but boosted up the Amperage to an output of about 140 amps. I've ran a number of parades with that setup and have had no trouble with voltage or power to anything. Been happy with it to.
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Jeremy You took the words out of my mouth. Danny find a parts store that stocks alternator parts and buy what ever amperage seems right for your car 140 amps is a pretty decent amperage then either you rebuild it or have a mom and pop alternator shop rebuild it for you. PS the Motor City Chapter has 2 stores that give our members discounts on all auto parts let me know if you need any help

Russ
 
Just had a similar problem with the 73 Suburban just after the Hudson meet. 130 amp alternator needed replaced. Found a place in Akron called Automotive Electronics that did a wonderful rebuild for $150. Looks and works like new.
 
It sounds like the extra load may have taken some glaze off of your alt. brushes. Check and look around the alt. to see if your getting a build up of dust. The brushes should if I remember correctly be at the back of the alt. Keep an eye on it and check it off and on, if you start getting a bunch of dust you may need to carry an extra set of brushes or alt. :snow_smi:
 
I would blame your problems on the salt air you have in warm Florida. I would be happy to fly to Florida and drive your car back to Minnesota, where the salt air won't get into the electrical parts. I will send you "vacation" pictures of your car while it enjoys Minnesota. "The Ambulance out on a frozen lake" "The Ambulance plowing through a snow drift" The Ambulance sliding into a ditch"..... It will be fun for your car!
 
How long does a Minnesota rust worm grow before it reaches adult stage and reproduced? Will they commingle and breed with Florida rust worms?? :D
 
Paul Steinberg said:
How long does a Minnesota rust worm grow before it reaches adult stage and reproduced? Will they commingle and breed with Florida rust worms?? :D
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Well, sometimes the rust worms can be very fast growing, however, I personally wouldn't worry about that on this particular ambulance. It is doubtful that they will commingle with Florida rust worms...more like seize and conquer!

:snow2_smi:
 
Richard Vyse said:
I used the Lifeliner in our local parade last night and it did great with the "Q" and other lights and sirens. After unloading at the funeral home and giving the car 30 minutes rest to cool off I started it up to head home only to discover my dash lights are now as bright as they should be, my turn signals blink faster and no longer drag, and the car seems to just run better.

It's like the parade with the "Q" operating forced the charging system to get in gear and brought those things up to par. I drove it in this morning and it runs outstanding.

I've always had real dim dashlights and super slow blinkers but not anymore!
Click to expand...

I think I found out what happened. Before the parade I noticed the grounding strap was loose which was mounted to an exhaust bolt that had broken. I relocated the strap to another location.

So I'm thinking this may have had something to do with it. It came to me in a dream last night that I had done this. The other part of the dream would get me banned if I discussed it. xmass
 
Richard Vyse said:
I think I found out what happened. Before the parade I noticed the grounding strap was loose which was mounted to an exhaust bolt that had broken. I relocated the strap to another location.

So I'm thinking this may have had something to do with it. It came to me in a dream last night that I had done this. The other part of the dream would get me banned if I discussed it. xmass
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as well it should. :clubem: the ground is always the key to good electrical preformance but usally the most over looked. seen in a wreck were it got better and gages started reading higher. scared the man ownig the car.
 
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