ignition light not coming on

Post by **KirstMin** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:25 am

Hi all,

I have had 5 weeks away from minor and came back to it today; the car started just fine but I have noticed that the ignition light (the red light that should come on when the engine is not running but the key is turned) no longer comes on: the car starts and runs fine - i drove around for 30 mins. I have checked obvious things like the bulb but that is OK; what seems odd is that this had previously happened when I left the car alone for a month but after 30 mins of running it started working. Also, it worked today but for just 10 minutes when I was faffing around this afternoon but has since stopped working at all - so has been intermittent.

Any ideas? Is this common when you leave your minor alone for a month or so and does it indicate a more serious problem? I know the consequences when the light doesn't go out but what does it mean if it never illuminates!!?

Thanks all.

Kirsten

Post by **MoggyTech** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 2:28 am

Is your car dynamo or alternator?

If it's an alternator, the alternator is on it's way out (Voltage Regulator failing or bad wiring)

If Dynamo it will be the regulator box going faulty or possibly dynamo brushes.

Post by **KirstMin** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:05 pm

MoggyTech wrote:Is your car dynamo or alternator?

If it's an alternator, the alternator is on it's way out (Voltage Regulator failing or bad wiring)

Hiya, thanks for the reply. Sorry, I should have mentioned, its an alternator; only 12 months old! So could it be the fact that the car has been left for long periods and there is a poor connection somewhere? Like I said, it has happened before (after 2 months of not being driven) and then it was ok after about 30 mins of running. It worked for a bit yesterday too.

If the light is off when the ignition is turned does that mean the alternator is NOT charging the battery?

Thanks again,

Kirsten

Post by **Orkney** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:20 pm

If the lights off ( i could be wrong and await being corrected) on ignition but not running then thats a no circuit somewhere - could be the bulb, could be a dodgy connection.
If it works after a while then elliminates the bulb being gone - could be that if its a poor connection then it 'might' start working after a while once you get sufficient amps/volts to get through the crud of the dodgy connection.
Suppose brushes or winding on the alternator itself might also be a possible cause - if so easier to replace than fix.

Post by **KirstMin** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:31 pm

Orkney wrote:If the lights off ( i could be wrong and await being corrected) on ignition but not running then thats a no circuit somewhere - could be the bulb, could be a dodgy connection.
If it works after a while then elliminates the bulb being gone - could be that if its a poor connection then it 'might' start working after a while once you get sufficient amps/volts to get through the crud of the dodgy connection.
Suppose brushes or winding on the alternator itself might also be a possible cause - if so easier to replace than fix.

So I suppose the sensible thing to do before I shell out for a new alternator would be to clean all the terminals and make sure its not a connection issue. Like I said, the alternator has not even done 5000 miles but the car does get left for a month or 2 at a time and it appears to have this problem when I return to it.

Post by **Orkney** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:51 pm

Well the old adage of course is never assume that just because something is new doesnt mean to say its actually working perfectly.
The leaving it thing - its more likely to be poor connection than the alt.
Start with the alt connectors - never know migth be a loose spade fitting?

Post by **MoggyTech** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 2:12 pm

The problem with alternators is even a brief noisy connection in the charging circuit can wreck an alternator in milliseconds. I was miffed to see my traveller had an alternator when I bought it, dynamos are almost bullet proof in comparison. Your alternator is probably a LUCAS 17 ACR unit. FWIW the Sierra QHR FRA45 (Quinten Hazel) alternator is a much better unit, but you will need to ensure all connections are OK in any case.

Another cause of no ignition light after a lay up can be noisy slip ring to brushes inside the alternator, if it got damp during the layup.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:07 pm

Yes- change to a reliable dynamo!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:02 pm

Wiggle the connections - and see what happens. Then at fast idle -check the battery volts - should be 13.8/14.2 - if only ~ 12 then it's not charging.

Post by **KirstMin** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:18 pm

I took the connections apart, cleaned them, applied some wd40 and sprayed some wd40 into the alternator for good luck. Turned the key and low and behold a nice red glowing ignition light!

I only wish I had done one thing at a time, checking the light each time to see what it was that was causing the problem. But too late now.

Thanks everyone for your help!

Post by **RogerRust** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:53 am

just to get on the band wagon I have the world's slackest fan belt at the moment and it's still charging. If it was an alternator it would be screaming by now.

Post by **MoggyTech** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:46 pm

RogerRust wrote:just to get on the band wagon I have the world's slackest fan belt at the moment and it's still charging. If it was an alternator it would be screaming by now.

Better adjust it then eh

Post by **bigginger** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:06 pm

Fair enough, but as he has said elsewhere, every 500 miles is a leeeeeetle too often...
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