ignition light on when driving

[guydenning]

...only dimly, but getting brighter as engine revs increase. and going out when at tickover. The squeak has gone now though... could the squeak be associated with the alternator and not the fan belt as previously thought and the odd light behaviour be a symptom of something about to happen?

[bigginger]

Squeak COULD be the bearings on the alternator (dynamo?) failing, yes, which I guess (and I stress guess) could affect the charging.

[Alec]

Hello Guy,
you say alternator and be aware that the ignition light will come on if it over charges. I would get that checked quickly before it fries your battery. If it smells at all 'acidy' under the bonnet, it is overcharging.

Alec

[guydenning]

booger...
there's always more than one 'option of impending doom' isn't there!

[Alec]

Hello Guy,

assuming it's a basic Lucas alternator, then exchange units are not expensive. I personally, would never bother to try and repair one.

Alec

[Cam]

Agreed. I have had the same symptoms time and again and it's usually the solid-state regulator pack that fails before anything else. I had quite a few alternators lying about, trouble was that they all had the reg pack blown!

Go get an exchange unit!

[paulk]

Simple check

Stick voltmeter across battery ignition off Should be 12v ish

Turn on car ,repeat above, should read 14v ish

Rev car should read still 14v ish

On my eurobox last month got 16.5v at idle and 20-22 volts at 1500rpm
Alternator well and truly kernackered
Also battery every so slightly crispy and strongly smelt of acid/sulferish

one recon alternator later everything fine and dandy but battery has probably taken a life shortening zap. Come the winter we will see


Paulk

[rayofleamington]

Turn on car ,repeat above, should read 14v ish

best to turn engine on and rev it a little, then let it idle - otherwise the alternator might not have woken up

The best way to describe an overchaged battery smell is 'bad eggs' - i've been let own by alternators quite a few times and overcharging is worse than undercharging as it will ruin the battery and can also wreck other electronics in the car (eg the Volvo with the interior light dimmer that stayed on overnight occasionally etc...)

[guydenning]

Thinking about the noise (which has now gone) I reckon Andrew's probably on the button with this problem...
There was far too much volume for it to be the fan belt - and I reckon when I pushed the alternator back out to tensionise (that really should be a word) the belt I reckon that's what's stopped the squeely, whining squeek...
So new alternator it is... and Mister mate who's doing the deal with the Allegro has loads of 'em. Old, reconditioned... even new - since he never throws anything out. And he's happy to throw a new one my way
There's nothing like a good mate is there... specially one that likes DAFs, Allegros, BSA Bantams, Batavus Gogos, Dolomites, Moggies... and he's getting an Ariel 3 shortly - now that's very strange...

[bigginger]

Ah, the Ariel Triangular 3... or p'raps it's one of these - http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/date ... 511263.stm


PS http://www.3wheelers.com/ariel.html

[paulk]

Fantastic something even slower than a normal moped!

and also with the added benefit that it can't fall over.

Paulk

[guydenning]

fantastic Andrew - The boy will get no peace at work on Monday when I pass that first one around as being his new motor!

and if you want more motorcycle madness...
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/industry.e ... timers.htm

groooooooooooooovy