Dead battery cause?

[rayofleamington]

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

My experience with Alternators is similar to Cams - 4 Minors with them and all faulty. 16 Minors with dynamos and had to replace 2 (one squealing bearing and one broken brush spring) but never got stranded.
next time I drive a Minor with an alternator, I'll be carrying a spare battery AND a spare alternator.

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

I had an early Vectra that did that by itself... also at traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.

[PSL184]

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

I had an early Vectra that did that by itself... also at traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.

There are now many of the so called "green" moderns that do it automatically these days - Mind you I think VW started it all off with the "Formal E" range of Polo's back in the 80's.....

[Cam]

We'll be a bit stuck if we have to do that in a 2 hour queue after dark! 'cause you'll have to have your sidelights on and that will soon flatten your battery.

Do the moderns that do it automatically kill the lights/electrics or can the owners flatten the battery if so wished?

[bmcecosse]

Oh -I expect the on-board computer will not allow the auto shut-off if the battery voltage drops below a certain figure......... I do wonder how long the starter motors last - with constant start stop! Don't suppose the first owner cares - but 5 years down the line.........

[Cam]

Crazy. And I was moaning about the automatic wipers & lights in Gill's Mondeo.

I'll stick with my Minors thanks.

[rayofleamington]

Oh -I expect the on-board computer will not allow the auto shut-off if the battery voltage drops below a certain figure.........

Got it in one! If the interior temperature or battery condition needs energy input the engine will continue to run.
Smart charging alternators are able to provide more charge when on overun or cruising, so that they are off load during idle and/or when the battery is fully charged.

Starter motors for start/stop systems have to be designed to meet the requirements, and it's not a case of simply carrying over any starter motor.

One solution is the integrater starter alternator (like the one from Schaeffler group.. my former employers) which integrates smart charging system and high durability starting system into a single unit... but not 'cheap'. Or more complex for hybrid vehicles to mount the windings the other side of the clutch so that it is E-motor drive when engine is decoupled, gives brake energy recuperation , starts the engine, generates voltage during engine drive mode and can also add accelleration boost in engine drive mode to allow for smaller engine capacity... I'll stick with Minors too!

[mrmorrisminor]

When setting up my choke cable, I make sure that the first notch on the lever just operates the throttle cam enough to increase the revs to about 1000 rpm or there abouts....... without altering the mixture. When I am sitting in a queue for any period I then pull the choke one notch to raise the idle to my 'traffic setting' this just keeps things topped up when sitting for a while...... not ideal but has served me well for the past 13 years with no obvious ill effect

[billlobban]

My experience with Alternators is similar to Cams - 4 Minors with them and all faulty. 16 Minors with dynamos and had to replace 2 (one squealing bearing and one broken brush spring) but never got stranded.
next time I drive a Minor with an alternator, I'll be carrying a spare battery AND a spare alternator.

Sorry guys I just cant agree. Where the myth about alternator reliability comes from is beyond me. Over the last 25 years I have been running about 10 car derived vans at a time and have had literaly dozens of cars over the same period and I have had one alternator failure in all this time and that was on a Renault Kangoo van with over 200,000 miles on the clock.
For me its an alternator every time especially as I cant be bothered charging the battery every other week or even sooner in this weather.

[Bazzalucas]

I've always found alternators to be extremely reliable, too. Don't understand the prejudice...are the unreliable ones we're discussing made by Lucas? (cue string of jokes here). I have long experience of Bosch and Denso alternaors, and they are very dependable.
Oh, and I've been shoveling Global Warming for about 3 days now.

[cormorant]

When setting up my choke cable, I make sure that the first notch on the lever just operates the throttle cam enough to increase the revs to about 1000 rpm or there abouts....... without altering the mixture. When I am sitting in a queue for any period I then pull the choke one notch to raise the idle to my 'traffic setting' this just keeps things topped up when sitting for a while...... not ideal but has served me well for the past 13 years with no obvious ill effect

Yes i do that too and it seems to work well

[MarkyB]

are the unreliable ones we're discussing made by Lucas?

You may be on to something here.
I've rarely if ever had problems with alternators fitted to modern cars.
Ones fitted to Minors however...

[bmcecosse]

All my alternators (on classic cars) are/have been Lucas - they are fine!

[eastona]

I had mine fail within a few months of fitting it. It may have been something to do with the 2007 floods in gloucestershire where the car was well and trully dunked quite a few times. Either way, ESM replaced it and it's been fine ever since. Maybe because I carry a spare under the floor ;)

I replaced the dynamo precisely because of the traffic issue as my commute a few years ago was only 8 miles each way and could often get stuck in slow moving traffic. I've got halogen headlights, which don't help.

Andrew

[rayofleamington]

I've got halogen headlights, which don't help.

they should draw the same current!

[bmcecosse]

On dip beam - 'bulb' headlights are only 45 watt against 55 for halogens.