Elle <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:H1eHf.13812$rH5.6638@newsread2.news.atl.earth link.net...
> "Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote
> > I was lucky that both my cars that had that problem also had voltmeters. I
> > noticed the voltmeter in each fluctuating as the brushes made contact and
> > then didn't, but the lamps never flickered. (Sometimes they wouldn't come
> > on before start-up when the brushes were wearing out.) Talk about "idiot
> > lights!"
>
There's often more than one reason for a term to become popular....

> Would you say watching the voltage across the battery terminals of an idling
> car might also likely pick up bad brushes?
>
>
I dunno about MP, but it would better to watch at the alternator end. I think
you'd see somewhat more fluctuation there due to the resistance of the circuit
to the battery. Come to think of it, you'd do well to check both - big changes
at the alt and small change at the battery could indicate bad wires or
connections...