Dead battery cause?

[Richardthefish]

Driving back from Sheffield this morning in slow traffick and heavy snow I stalled my Morris and it was clear that the battery had lost all power. I was near Halfords and got a new battery and we were off again. The car still has a dynamo fitted and the lights, heater and wiper had all been on (car at constant low revs due to traffick).

Is it possible that the extra load simply drained the battery? The ignition light did not shine as if the dynamo had failed. Should I consider fitting an alternator conversion?

Anyway 20 miles drive took me three hours and the car showed now further signs of trouble.

Any clues would be really useful.

Regards

Richard the Fish

[rayofleamington]

Should I consider fitting an alternator conversion?

Do you have a starting handle? They are useful - especially if (like me) you forget to turn the lights off sometimes.
When I was commuting in the Minor over winter I used to charge the battery overnight once or twice during the winter months.
I may be a 'bit eccentric' but in stationary traffic I always turn the wipers off and use the handbrake rather than keep the footbrake on for however many minutes. The brake lights are 40 watts (almost an extra headlight bulb in terms of battery drain) but as well as that I think leaving the brake lights on creates more "light pollution" i.e. the extra glare makes it harder for other drivers to see cyclists and/or pedestrians or just gives them a headache.

As for the drained battery - an alternator will help keep the battery charged during periods in heavy traffic with all the consumers on, but if the battery was at the end of its life, then it would have failed soon anyway.

[billlobban]

Personally Richard I would fit an alternator if you drive in winter weather, but I would consider one of the kits available from your local scrapyard. Especially having seen one of the kits from my preferred supplier [] which was of such appalingly bad quality.

[bmcecosse]

Yes - would just be lack of amps from the dynamo not keeping up with the drain - red light only shows if NO charge. Check the fan belt is tight enough - but otherwise it's likely ok. Wise to keep headlight use a minimum if in traffic. Alternator is certainly better if doing many miles on a regular basis - especially in slow traffic etc. You don't need to pay a fortune for an alternator - I buy them for £1 when I see them. Very easy install - and only small wiring change required.

[cormorant]

I have had 4 Minors now, all dynamo and daily use and never felt the need to put in an alternator. I bet your old battery was just a bit past it - if you get yourself a multimeter (cheap - about £7 -ebay) you can check whether it is holding a charge and use it for lots of other things. A good 12v battery is up around 13.8 volts.

[Richardthefish]

Many thanks - good sound advice as usual - I'll dig around the scrappies for an alternator - any clues on wiring it in? Sorry but I'm a learning novice!

Regards and thanks again,

Richard the Fish

[linearaudio]

Many thanks - good sound advice as usual - I'll dig around the scrappies for an alternator - any clues on wiring it in? Sorry but I'm a learning novice!

Regards and thanks again,

Richard the Fish

Very simple- has been shown on here many times, but I can never get my head round the search function!
Basically, A nice thick wire from the output terminal of alternator to battery side of starter solenoid (car must be negative earthed, easy in itself!).
The littler connection on the alternator, either 1/4" push-on type or small stud, marked "ind", connects to the red light on the speedo. You can access the wire to this from the old dynamo control box, see electrical "sticky" for wiring/ colours of the standard loom. You can leave the control box where it is as it isn't harming anyone and also serves the function of linking two of the original loom wires together.
For any heavy winter traffic work I would heartily recommend the conversion, having previously had an ammeter in circuit which showed how little power a dynamo puts out below about 30mph!

[billlobban]

There is a wiring diagram on the Club technical manual. Remember to take the plug and any mountings. I think mine is off a Mini so fitting was easy.
Sorry I cant agree about the wonders of dynamo use. Before I swapped. Halogen lights/heater fan/wipers meant continuous discharge especially in slow moving traffic and now I've got heated rear windows without the alternator I'd need to carry a spare battery

[linearaudio]

Also available brand new for about £40, but with my experiences of new stuff, I think I'd rather put my faith in an old one from a scrap Mini. Just wish the scrap yards down south were as cheap as in Scotland- I can't recall EVER buying an alternator for £1, or a 1275 head for a fiver!

[LouiseM]

The wiring diagrams here:

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... or+fitting

[billlobban]

Also available brand new for about £40, but with my experiences of new stuff, I think I'd rather put my faith in an old one from a scrap Mini. Just wish the scrap yards down south were as cheap as in Scotland- I can't recall EVER buying an alternator for £1, or a 1275 head for a fiver!

But you obviously dont remember the days of steam (cars that is) or the white fiver or brown football. The only reason you can no longer get one for a pound is because Roy has cornered the market.

[bmcecosse]

I only get them for £1 at autojumbles - find a stall with several 'ropey' ones - wait till near end of day - offer £1. Never had a bad one yet! Similar deal with 940 heads! Although the £5 bargain was one with badly recessed exhaust valves. Ideal for what I wanted it for!

[Cam]

I have had a similar problem recently. I had recently discharged my battery by sitting in long queues with the lights on and I was stuck in traffic AGAIN for 2 hours moving about 1/2 a mile. The battery got so low that when I declutched, the lights dimmed to a brown glow and there was not enough power left for the indicator! Until I revved her (proved the dynamo works!).

I tried the car again the following morning and she did not even turn over once! Just a little grunt when pulling the starter and then silence.

BUT I wound the engine over 2 or 3 times on the starting handle (to suck some fuel into the engine), switched on the ignition and she kicked into life on the second 'tug' on the handle!

Needless to say, I charged the battery that night.

To be honest, I have an alternator on my modified car, but on my everyday car I would not entertain an alternator as I have had too many failures in the past and a dynamo (in my experience) has been much more reliable.

Incidently, just to note, the alternator failures I have had have ALL been the solid state electronics, usually the diode pack, which of course the dynamo does not have or need...

[bmcecosse]

Lift the idle speed slightly for winter use! And of course - minimise on electricity consumption when travelling slowly.

[Cam]

Of course! Good advice, but sometimes if you queue for long enough the battery will drain, especially if it's getting on a bit...

[bmcecosse]

If stopped in a queue - shouild switch off engine - to prevent 'unnecessary idling' - it's what's causing all this Global Warming (apparently) which you may have noticed over the last couple of weeks.........

[PSL184]

If stopped in a queue - shouild switch off engine - to prevent 'unnecessary idling'.

It's a legal requirement on some parts of Europe so you can expect it to arrive here soon enough anyway.....

[bmcecosse]

Absolutely - bet they don't have Global Warming.

[billlobban]

Its already started I beleive that taxi drivers in Inverness must switch off their engines when waiting at a taxi rank. Wonder how many of then are ignoring the bye-law in this weather?

[bmcecosse]

Oh yes - the 'unnecessary idling' law is in place - but doesn't (yet) apply to vehicles in queuing traffic. Buses are supposed to shut off when standing in a terminus - but they don't!