Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Recently purchased a 1940 110 Coupe. Prior owner said headlights only worked on high beams, to me it does seem to swap from high to low beams, but in either position the ampere meter shows a constant discharge condition, revving the engine does not bring it to the charge position. When using only parking lights or fog lights, speeding up the engine will bring the ampere meter to the charge position.

Do you feel I should be looking at the generator/voltage regulator or a problem with the headlights themselves? I did try connecting only one headlight at a time with the same results.

The 40 110 appears to have a typical headlight circuit with 2 bulbs in parallel. Specs say 45 watts on high beam, 40 low beam. Assuming no loss, 45 watts at 6v would be around 7 1/2 amps needed for each bulb. At the usual higher charging voltage, even less. The tail light and other bulbs would add another 2 or so amps to the total -- well within the typical headlight switch protection of 20 amps max for head, parking, tail and sometimes instrument lights. If both high and low work and the headlight protection isn't blowing, I doubt you have a problem with the lights or anything in the light circuit.

The generator max output is spec'd at 35 amps so if the amp meter is showing a discharge at a draw of roughly 15 amps or approximately half the maximum output, I would suspect the gen/reg is in need of service.

Thanks, I'll approach it from that angle, the cover of the regulator appears as new, but no guarantee that it's of the correct type.

G'day Jim,
Congratulations and for including your '40 One-Ten Business Coupe in the Packard Owner's Registry.

Nice looking car. Know you'll enjoy it.

Thanks, I look forward to spending some time enjoying. You have some nice looking cars also.

We also have a 22nd series, similiar to a 23rd series that I grew us with, but always loved the prewar cars, fifty some years ago there was this nice 7 passenger 180, but I couldn't talk dad into providing the 75.00 purchase price, I've wanted one of that vintage ever since.