Dynamo Troubles

Post by **Keith** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 2:44 pm

The short version is, the igition light suddenly came on while I was driving the car, the dynamo was very hot. I took the dynamo off and tested it by connecting the two terminals together and connected it to a battery and it ran like a motor, which I'm told shows it's ok.

I put on a spare dynamo I had, worked ok for the first 10 miles to the Enfield rally, then the igition light came on. The dynamo was very hot!.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, if it is the voltage regulator, any idea where it is in a MM series car?.

thanks Keith

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 3:33 pm

It does sound like a regulator problem... no idea where it is....oh, hang on....

No, it doesn't say in my workshop manual ( at least no-where obvious). Should be a black box though, similar to the late mogs.

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 3:43 pm

any idea where it is in a MM series car?.

Not hidden by the Alta head and Shorrocks then Keith, if you get stuck try Roger Burrows 07768 734339 9am-6pm as he specialises in the early cars, and the worse thing he was the man on the microphone at Enfield yesterday

Post by **Cam** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:12 pm

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, if it is the voltage regulator, any idea where it is in a MM series car?.

Same place as the late cars - under the bonnet - on the bulkhead - top left.

Post by **Keith** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:40 pm

sorry I should have written Voltage Stabiliser, not regulator. On the newer cars, this is attached to the back of the speedo I think.....not so on the early cars.

thanks Keith

Post by **Gareth** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:07 pm

I think you were probably right first time... the Stabiliser just produces a clean voltage for the fuel gauge (or so I believe). The regulator could be at fault if there are problems charging. Did you investigate as to why the ignition light came on? Was the battery being drained?

Post by **Keith** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:14 pm

thanks to all for the replies....I now know what the voltage stabiliser does. I have a spare voltage regulator, I'll try that.

thanks Keith

Post by **sjstyles** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:31 pm

It might be worth checking the battery too. My dynamo did exactly the same as yours. I think what happened was that the battery was on the way so and the dynamo was always being asked to charge it and so it burnt out.
I then got a new dynamo and battery charger. I charged the battery for ages but it didnt even have anough juice to turn the engine (this what Im basing my 'battery on the way out' theory on). One new battery later and its all totaly fine and back on the road.
Be careful checking the reulator etc, only very small adjustments at a time.

Post by **Keith** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:12 pm

A new battery sounds the best bet, the one I have is fairly old.
Can anyone recommend somewhere that reconditions dyanmos as I would like to keep my original as it is the correct one for the 52 MM.
thanks Keith