Does this affect performance?

[Motorhead350]

This may seem stupid, but does racing with your headlights on slow the car down? The reason I am asking is because I was always told to turn off accesories like the radio and A/C off when I race. However I notice a few cars run down the strip with lights on and some off. I know lights won't effect the car as much as A/C, but does it do anything?

[DEFYANT]

This may seem stupid, but does racing with your headlights on slow the car down?
Only if it is night time and you race with you lights off. The car will slow down right away when you crash.

[Motorhead350]

Now it all makes sense! Thanks.......... :shake:

[Haggis]

This may seem stupid, but does racing with your headlights on slow the car down? The reason I am asking is because I was always told to turn off accesories like the radio and A/C off when I race. However I notice a few cars run down the strip with lights on and some off. I know lights won't effect the car as much as A/C, but does it do anything?

Lets put it this way, nice and simple. You don't want your alternator working any harder then it has to at WOT.

[MarauderMark]

Lets put it this way, nice and simple. You don't want your alternator working any harder then it has to at WOT.


Other than turning off the A/C i turn everything off(except my lights) for Focusing on what i am doing

[mpearce]

Don't some of the chip mods shut things down automatically at WOT? I could be wrong on this.


-Mat

[GodOSpeed]

Ford designed our alternators with a clutch to shut off and free-wheel @ WOT and you want the brunt of your current going where it matters most- your combustion chamber. :burnout:

[Ross]

Ford designed our alternators with a clutch to shut off and free-wheel @ WOT and you want the brunt of your current going where it matters most- your combustion chamber. :burnout:

That's why when you buy DR's underdrive pulleys (and maybe others, too), there isn't a replacement pulley for the alternator. You want to keep the OEM alternator pulley so you don't lose the special clutch that's on it.

[CRUZTAKER]

The only reason the A/C is turned of at the track is that is DRIPS WATER ON THE TRACK. :nono:

The A/C turns off immediately and automatically if you WOT.

So does the Alternator....so any components on, will draw from the battery uneccesarily. One wants all power available while the alt is off at WOT to operate the fuel pump, and engine components.

[wchain]

The compressor on also has a bit of parasitic drag on the motor, but probably won't make a difference in how it feels..

[Motorhead350]

The compressor on also has a bit of parasitic drag on the motor, but probably won't make a difference in how it feels..
Thank you thats what I thought.

[Donny Carlson]

I mean, all those photons being pushed ahead of the car will pile up and cause drag, no? Maybe if you mounted a couple huge zenon gas spotlamps pointed to the back the photons will give your car a little extra push....

BTW, it aint' the best idea to double up on your Nyquil dose.

Don't ask me how I know this...

[B.C. Bake]

Again, I learned somthing about my MM today:D 2004 A black...THANK'S

[jgc61sr2002]

IMO racing with the headlights on will cause the alternator to increase output causing a reduction in power. In the old days we used to disconnect the A/C and power steering belts to give increased power. This is impossible on modern vehicles with a (one) serpintine belt which powers all accessories. Turning off all unnecessary accessories will increase power IMO.

[Joe Walsh]

That's why when you buy DR's underdrive pulleys (and maybe others, too), there isn't a replacement pulley for the alternator. You want to keep the OEM alternator pulley so you don't lose the special clutch that's on it.


I've got the 'German-made' alternator which has a different style pulley-to-shaft attachment method.
This precludes use of an underdrive pulley anyway.
Does the 'German-made' alternator have the WOT clutch function???

[Joe Walsh]

I've got the 'German-made' alternator which has a different style pulley-to-shaft attachment method.
This precludes use of an underdrive pulley anyway.
Does the 'German-made' alternator have the WOT clutch function???


I pulled the cap off of my alternator pulley.....
Answer to my own question: Yes, the 'German made' alternator has the clutched pulley for *"fast acceleration/deceleration rates" (* per the shop manual)

Now for another question...Does anyone know how, or have the tool needed to remove the pulley from the alternator shaft???
(I want to have the front casting powder-coated)
The clutched pulley has a 33 spline recess in the face of it.

[duhtroll]

I think every single bit of electricity helps.

I dropped a tenth by turning off my radar equipment. Of course that may not be why I got my best time, but I never did that well beforehand and that was the only change.

I'll believe it helps until I learn otherwise (by an ET, not theory).

-A

[David Morton]

Lets put it this way, nice and simple. You don't want your alternator working any harder then it has to at WOT.Ha, ha. You da man, Haggis.

Haggis is saying, in a round about way, that our alternator is nothing more than an idler pulley at WOT. When the throttle position sensor detects wide open throttle the computer disengages the clutch on the pulley and it draws no HP from the engine.

The A/C compressor is handled the same way.

I got my 14.935 ET with everything on except Traction Control which does rob HP. Thank God there's a switch for the T/C because I still can't find the belt for it. :D

[metroplex]

At WOT, churning 6k, i seriously doubt your alternator has a problem charging your headlamps.

I always turn on the vents though. If you've ever had the windows up, and your blower running high - feel the door handles from the outside. Air from the inside flows out. There are vents like this in the trunk area as well. It's like positive pressure displacement to allow proper air circulation.

I turn on the vents because when you're displacing a lot of air (drag racing for instance) at high speeds, it might reduce aerodynamic drag just a tad if you allow air to flow through the inside of the car and out.

Who knows, the air coming from the door handles might propel your car faster!

Regardless, with the windows up, your helmet on, and in 95*F ambient, the vent has to be on otherwise you lose 25 lb from sweating it out!

[Haggis]

Ha, ha. You da man, Haggis.

Haggis is saying, in a round about way, that our alternator is nothing more than an idler pulley at WOT. When the throttle position sensor detects wide open throttle the computer disengages the clutch on the pulley and it draws no HP from the engine.

The A/C compressor is handled the same way.

I got my 14.935 ET with everything on except Traction Control which does rob HP. Thank God there's a switch for the T/C because I still can't find the belt for it. :D


Ok let me clear this up. Being S/C I was having a problem with fuel pressure at WOT, one of the reasons could have been not enough charge to keep fuel pump running at maximum. One solution is to change the program so the alternator stays on, another is to get a boost-a-pump. Since the first didn't fully work for me, I am still dropping fuel pressure over 5500rpm. That is where number two comes in, boost-a-pump on order.

Hope this helps.

[David Morton]

Ok let me clear this up. Being S/C I was having a problem with fuel pressure at WOT, one of the reasons could have been not enough charge to keep fuel pump running at maximum. One solution is to change the program so the alternator stays on, another is to get a boost-a-pump. Since the first didn't fully work for me, I am still dropping fuel pressure over 5500rpm. That is where number two comes in, boost-a-pump on order.

Hope this helps.The thought never occurred to me. Thanks for the heads-up. I will be getting blown this year (that too, if I'm lucky) and I'm guessing you did get an upgraded pump with your supercharger. Which pump was it?

['03BlkMM]

The compressor on also has a bit of parasitic drag on the motor, but probably won't make a difference in how it feels..As CRUZTAKER said, there is no more parasitic drag on the motor at WOT with the AC on due to the fact that the computer disengages the clutch at WOT.

The alternator clutch does not disengage at WOT, for some reason Ford doesn't shut it off. Lidio states this in his programmer write up on his website. Thats one of the benefits of getting a tune, he shuts it off at WOT. Here is his write up,

"One very cool feature we’ve unlocked on our Marauder tune is the ability to shut off the alternator at “Wide-Open-Throttle”. The Marauder is one of the few Ford vehicles that came from the factory with the ability to shut off the Alternator at WOT, but Ford choose not to take advantage of. By shutting off the alternator at WOT we found this alone to be worth 4-5 RWHP with no adverse affects on the vehicle."

[CRUZTAKER]

As CRUZTAKER said.......
Thanks...it was as if I never posted it at all....it just goes on and on....:rolleyes:

[FastMerc]

This is what to do if you want to go faster,Find Sammy Haggar in your cd collection in the player find I cant drive 55 and CRANK IT YA BABBY...:burnout: :rofl:

[FastMerc]

As CRUZTAKER said, there is no more parasitic drag on the motor at WOT with the AC on due to the fact that the computer disengages the clutch at WOT.

The alternator clutch does not disengage at WOT, for some reason Ford doesn't shut it off. Lidio states this in his programmer write up on his website. Thats one of the benefits of getting a tune, he shuts it off at WOT. Here is his write up,

"One very cool feature we’ve unlocked on our Marauder tune is the ability to shut off the alternator at “Wide-Open-Throttle”. The Marauder is one of the few Ford vehicles that came from the factory with the ability to shut off the Alternator at WOT, but Ford choose not to take advantage of. By shutting off the alternator at WOT we found this alone to be worth 4-5 RWHP with no adverse affects on the vehicle." Question when I am on the highway and HAMMER IT my A.C. shuts off,the air does not come out of the vents.I get out of it,it renguages:D

['03BlkMM]

Question when I am on the highway and HAMMER IT my A.C. shuts off,the air does not come out of the vents.I get out of it,it renguages:D
Then you have a problem, or your very sarcastic! :D I said that the computer disengages the AC clutch not the fan. The 1/20th of a horsepower that the blower motor is taking via the alternator I would consider to be a very good trade off for continued comfort at WOT when its 103deg in the summer here in Dallas.

[David Morton]

I live in Florida and last summer did a lot of WOT launches at the traffic lights and never noticed a lack of cooling or vents shutting off or changing.

It would take a long time at WOT to deplete the evaporator core enough to be noticed except for the sometimes noticeable smell of water vapor as it goes past the dew point. As far as the vents changing, that would be a faulty vacuum system, the ballast cannister or check valve or something leaking vacuum upwind of the supply line check valve.

[CRUZTAKER]

I live in Florida and last summer did a lot of WOT launches at the traffic lights and never noticed a lack of cooling or vents shutting off or changing.Exactly.

I believe that is what Mark meant to imply. The blowers continue to pass cool air, but one can definately feel the compressor kick off and back on at WOT. It does it on the freeway as well, but I am not sure at what rpm or pedal depression point that it actually happens.

I rarely run my A/C. After all, in Ohio, all one needs to do is roll down a window for air conditioning.:P

[Haggis]

The thought never occurred to me. Thanks for the heads-up. I will be getting blown this year (that too, if I'm lucky) and I'm guessing you did get an upgraded pump with your supercharger. Which pump was it?

I went with the SVT Focus Fuel Pump which helped out considerably, but fuel pressure still dropped slightly over 5500rpm. Therefore I am having a boost-a-pump installed this spring.


The alternator clutch does not disengage at WOT, for some reason Ford doesn't shut it off. Lidio states this in his programmer write up on his website. Thats one of the benefits of getting a tune, he shuts it off at WOT. Here is his write up,

"One very cool feature we’ve unlocked on our Marauder tune is the ability to shut off the alternator at “Wide-Open-Throttle”. The Marauder is one of the few Ford vehicles that came from the factory with the ability to shut off the Alternator at WOT, but Ford choose not to take advantage of. By shutting off the alternator at WOT we found this alone to be worth 4-5 RWHP with no adverse affects on the vehicle."

Hmm...I believe I was told the opposite by members here, that the alternator was programed to shut off at WOT and to have the program changed to leave the alternator on so that there was continous power for the fuel pump. Yes, you would loose a few horses, but what is more important 4-5hp or taking the chance of running lean.

[FastMerc]

Exactly.

I believe that is what Mark meant to imply. The blowers continue to pass cool air, but one can definately feel the compressor kick off and back on at WOT. It does it on the freeway as well, but I am not sure at what rpm or pedal depression point that it actually happens.

I rarely run my A/C. After all, in Ohio, all one needs to do is roll down a window for air conditioning.:P A yes that is what I meant to say:D