Question About 328 Alternator Charging | FerrariChat
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Question About 328 Alternator Charging

Discussion in '308/328' started by Lawrence Coppari, May 8, 2020.

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  1. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,192
    Kingsport, TN
    Full Name:
    Lawrence A. Coppari
    #1 Lawrence Coppari, May 8, 2020
    I have owned my '87 328 for 32 years. One question I have always pondered is why do you have to blip the throttle to get the alternator to begin charging and for the idiot light to go out. I know it is not charging until I rev it because I can turn on the dome light when the engine first starts running. As soon as I rev the engine, the alternator light goes out and, simultaneously, the dome light brightens. No other vehicle I have ever owned works that way. All the batteries in my 328 have a lasted a long time so I am sure nothing is wrong with my system.
     
  2. ferrariowner

    ferrariowner Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2014
    1,155
    Mansfield, TX
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    Ron
    #2 ferrariowner, May 8, 2020
    Same on my QV. It is normal. I have seen it on multiple cars and airplanes. It is a function of the voltage regulator.
     
  3. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    64,136
    Southlake, TX
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    Rob Lay
    #3 rob lay, May 8, 2020
    you mean that's a bug and not a feature? :) I would miss it if it didn't do it. ;)
     
    Milkshaker0007 likes this.
  4. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,192
    Kingsport, TN
    Full Name:
    Lawrence A. Coppari
    #4 Lawrence Coppari, May 9, 2020
    I do not understand why it was designed that way. I have owned a number of vehicles with Bosch alternators and none works like this. There are reasons for everything.
     
  5. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,900
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    Mike 996
    #5 mike996, May 9, 2020
    I have always wondered the same thing. Clearly it is designed to work the way it does - an increase in throttle to initially "trigger" the charging system - but I can't imagine why it was done that way - what the advantage might be.

    FWIW, on my 328, often the initial cold starting high RPM idle speed is high enough to initiate charging/shut off the light but it is not consistent. Maybe it's supposed to do that all the time? If it did, then the charging would commence without blipping the throttle and this "question" wouldn't exist! ;)
     

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