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May 24, 2009 20:49:21 GMT
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..but I'm absolutely stumped!
The Herald has decided it wants to show its fragility to spite me now that I've stopped using it every day (I walk to work, it's lovely).
A question then.. The ignition light remains on almost all of the time and I have no idea why. It started off being for only 30 seconds or so but I drove 80 miles today and it spent most of it's time on. I'd understand it if the battery wasn't holding a charge or the fanbelt was loose.. But everything seems fine, it starts, runs, and appears to charge fine. I could just disconnect the bulb ;D Any ideas?
Apologies again for the techiness but I'm a bit stumped.
Thanks
Ben
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...proper medallion man chest wig motoring. |
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May 24, 2009 21:04:21 GMT
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Its defo an ign light, and not an oil light?
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"Chasin' the gash, with a four-out-the-dash"
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bxer
Part of things
Posts: 457
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May 24, 2009 21:12:14 GMT
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Has it got a dynamo or alternator?
Measure the voltage across the battery terminals when it's running, should be 13-14v
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Sorry, it's a bit techy..BenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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May 24, 2009 21:27:32 GMT
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If it has an alternator I'd suspect the brushes / diode pack. When the same thing happened to me on my Merc I just took out the diode / brush pack and cleaned up all the contacts.
It could of course be something else but just thought I'd suggest it.
Oh, also if you take the bulb out you may break the charging circuit and stop the battery charging all together! ;D
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The Doctor
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 3,434
Club RR Member Number: 48
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Sorry, it's a bit techy..The Doctor
@thedoctor
Club Retro Rides Member 48
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May 24, 2009 21:48:43 GMT
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sorry for the topic hi-jack, but is there a differance between a dynamo and an alternator? because in dutch, there's only 1 word for!  |
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May 24, 2009 23:43:33 GMT
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sorry for the topic hi-jack, but is there a differance between a dynamo and an alternator? because in dutch, there's only 1 word for! i do believe that a dynamo only gives out Direct Current, and an alternator gives out Alternating Current? I'm not sure why they changed over though. |
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sorry for the topic hi-jack, but is there a differance between a dynamo and an alternator? because in dutch, there's only 1 word for! I do believe that a dynamo only gives out Direct Current, and an alternator gives out Alternating Current? I'm not sure why they changed over though. Curly-wurly for Surprisingskoda ;D The change was for efficiency reasons. Back to the OP (who I thought was tetchy due to his car not charging - the mild tone of the post confused me tho, I realise now  ) If the herald still has a dynamo,my guess is its the ACR box you need to be looking at, probably the resistor on the bottom has burned out. (its a black box on the bulkhead with "LUCAS" written on it) If its converted to alternator, the alt is faulty, and needs a diode pack or replacing (depends on type) As mentioned above, you can check for charge with a multimeter - expect above 13.5 volts on an alternator system, 12.5-14 depending on revs for a dynamo. |
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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sorry for the topic hi-jack, but is there a differance between a dynamo and an alternator? because in dutch, there's only 1 word for! I do believe that a dynamo only gives out Direct Current, and an alternator gives out Alternating Current? I'm not sure why they changed over though. An alternator gives the same charge regardless of how fast it's spinning, a dynamo gives less charge at low speed. When cars began to be fitted with more electrical accesories, heated rear screens, more powerful lights ect, a dynamo wouldn't be able to keep up with demand on the battery if the car was sat in traffic idling. Alternators are lighter and more compact as well. |
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... the only injury I sustained was a bumped head when I let the seatbelt of without realizing the car was upside down and that's not really the car's fault. |
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May 25, 2009 12:23:40 GMT
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Thanks to all.. It wouldn't start at all this morning so I guess the driving yesterday did nothing but drain the battery and it wasn't charging at all. bums.
It is most definitely an alternator, and according to the very limited paperwork that's with it in my pack of history, it's internally regulated. The sticker with its part number has faded to the point that I can barely make anything out on it but it appears to start 'DRA'.
I'm going to go and find out what a diode pack is now and see if that's the problem...
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...proper medallion man chest wig motoring. |
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May 25, 2009 13:31:26 GMT
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The diode pack is usually hidden under the plastic cover on the end of the alternator. Depending on brand and model, it may be encased in epoxy resin, making it just a little block of black plastic inside.
The ignition light on at all times (especially not full-brightness) is a sinature of semicondustor failure. Good news is that if you can get the pack, it's usually cheaper than replacing the alternator new or rebuilt.
If it's a really old style one, there'll be six discs packed in tight against some contacts- that's the "Diode pack", basically turns 3-phase AC at 14 Volts into Direct Current, and there's a little circuit that switches the alternator output off if it generates too much, but also doesn't latch in if it's not making enough. If one of the diodes has quit, the output of the alternator is usually about 9-11 Volts and will not trip the circuit and begin to charge.
Long story short, it's a fairly safe bet to replace the diodes and the regulator (often all lumped into that one plastic piece) to get that working correctly again.
--Phil
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