todd928

Well,

Here is my first pleas for help, when starting the car this morning to go for a run the car showed a healthy reading of around 13.5 of the volt gauge, halfway through journey the reading dropped down to 10 and preceded to drop.

I found a battery supplier on route who tested my battery and found it to be dead and running a full test cycle on it prounced it deader than dead. 60 pound lighter I left with new one!!

Problem is the volt meter wont go above 11 or 12 unless the cars revs reach 4k then it bounces up to the 13.5 mark then drops back once the revs drop below 4k.

I am positive the gauge is OK as when I switch lights ect on it drops below 10 and the windows get really slow as do the windscreeen wipers

The battery fitted is the correct spec and as my new chariot is supposed to be delivering crimbo pressies over the next few days the panic is on

Any advice?

Cheers

Mark

User 4221

Attach a voltmeter directly to the battery and notice behavior while varying engine speed. The voltmeter is notoriously inaccurate and has dodgy behavior.

On the other hand, you could have corroded contacts in exciter circuit or power connections.

This is tedious, but start by cleaning all ground points and power connections from the jump start terminal to the alternator and the starter.

Also, do a search on WallyP's power maintenance schedule.

HTH,
Scott

todd928

Scott,

Just back in from fighting with the earth points, rusty is polite!!

Car now fine, voltmeter even corresponds with voltmeter in car and showing a more constant reading with no flickering.

Tip my hat to you sir, wife asks if your instructiuons were that good why you didn't tell me to wash my hands before i'd walked through the house


Thanks Again

Mark

Randy V

OK, I gotta ask - what does that mean?

todd928

New Chariot = Just got the car

Delivering crimbo pressies = Using car to do a round trip of 300 miles over christmas and boxing day to see family and deliver presents.

All makes perfect sense now..

Cheers

Mark

User 4221

Mark,
Glad to see it was an easy fix. Your sanitary habits are between you and the wife

Thanks for letting us know the outcome and have a merry Christmas.

Garth S

Mark,
After the crimbo pressies are done,and your new chariot carries you into a happy new year, I can't wait for the linguistic colour you might add to the next Scottish festive event - like Robbie Burns and Haggis.
- may all your electrical problems be so simple!

todd928

OK, don't know if this is related, think it is so will keep it in topic.

Driving down road and hade to jump on the anchors to avoid car reversing out a driveway, car stalls and will not start (it's an auto).

Proceed to call the RAC out they do the normal checks.

First off there is no spark at the dizzy caps ( they are turning though) but the coils are working.

He then thinks that it is related to the fuel pumps, if fuel pumps not working then no spark at the ignition, similar to an old UK astra GTE he said

Sure enough there is no earth to the fuel pumps (checked at fuse panel) at all and he reckoned the ignition is on the same earth but WHERE this is the question.

He also bridged the relay and got the fuel pump running but still no spark

Car turns over no problem and all the lights come on the dash but just no spark.

apologies for the vagueness of the tekky details

Any pointers appreciated

Cheers

Mark

todd928

OK have been through as many related threads as I can find have tried;

Cleaning the small wires that connect to the battery positive terminal.

Changing the relays for Fuel and Ignition with Horn relay

And no joy at all.

Can anyone tell me where the earth would be for these relays?


Thanks

Mark

todd928

OK, no advice forth coming so in a huff I went out and punched the fuse board

Bloody thing started!!!!!

It's like having a 2nd wife, temperamental or what?

Mark