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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2006 12:33:24 GMT
Being a new owner of my P5B coupe, I am still trying to work out what doesn't work because there is a problem with what's been fitted (starter motor), what doesn't work 'properly' because it never worked on the original vehicle (heated rear window), and what I think doesn't work, but actually does (as designed but not very well).
The Alternator (an upgraded one from Richard Spratley) is keeping the Ammeter on the zero when I am running the car - it's actually about a millimetre into the positive charge. Is this correct, or should the charge vary with the revs on the engine, and go up higher? I have re-tensioned the fan belt, but this doesn't seem to have made a jot of difference.
What should be Ammeter be showing as I am driving along?
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Post by dorsetflyer on Jan 17, 2006 15:40:06 GMT
If you have a fully charged battery the ammeter should be on zero while you are driving the car. At idle it might show just a slight discharge but if as you say you have an uprated alternator then at idle it may well register zero. While at idle try adding more load on by putting headlights on etc then you might again show a discharge.
Normally when you start up from cold the ammeter will go into the plus side until the battery has been topped up then it will fall to zero. The odd millimetre either side of zero on the ammeter shouldn't be read into too much as the accuracy of these is questionable, and only give a rough indication as to what's happening to the electrics.
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Post by Phil Nottingham on Jan 17, 2006 20:24:33 GMT
Its easy to check charging rates as if its not the battery will go flat! ;D Seriously if you switch on lights, headlights, fan, wipers while running at say 1500 revs the ammeter should just flick a couple of times and settle down to where it was till the load of the alternator is exceeded. This only works properly with a fully charged battery.  I am shocked at such heresy to say that things never worked properly or were badly designed  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2006 12:33:04 GMT
Thanks guys, looks like it might be alright then!
Hmmm, I love my car, but the heated rear window is not exactly effective. Two words "automatic choke"! Not everything was quite right when the car was designed. Looks good though, goes like hell when it's not broken down on the roadside!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2006 15:11:53 GMT
To be fair, the auto chokes DID work well for a few years. I have changed mine to manual choke and it works well.
My ammeter shows plenty of charge after starting the car then quickly settles down to around zero when running in daytime.
Regards
Adrian
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