I started having this strange charging indictor problem last night.
While I was driving, the charging light (the one with a battery icon)
came on. At idle the light was barely lit but as the engine speed
increased it would glow brighter.
Today I checked the battery. It read 12.55v with the engine stopped.
With the engine running, it read from 13.6v at idle to 13.8v at higher
engine speed. It appeared that the battery and alternator are both OK.
So folks, where do you think the problem is? When the car is first
started, the light goes off after a few seconds as always. But as soon
as the engine speed goes beyond 1500rpm the light comes on.
On a different subject here is the answer to Steve Leung's survey on
wagon U-joints. Mine went out at 160k mi. It showed up as a rhythmic
hollow metallic knock aroung 50 mph, independent of throttle position
(coasting or under load) and engine speed (4th or 5th gear). At first I
thought that an exhaust component was hitting something. But after
adjusting the exhaust system to no avail a mechanic gave me the correct
diagnosis over the phone. I had him do the clutch at the same time.
The clutch had 120k at that time and probably could have lasted another
20k. The total bill was 850. plus tax. The U-joint was 250. and the
clutch pieces were 200.
Paul Chang
84 505S Wagon 5-speed, 189950 mi