| Moderated by: Greg Fletcher | ||
| Author | Post | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
colinw59 Member 
|
Well this is odd. #15851 is now 99.99% (more pics will be posted later today). I've driven her maybe 100 miles with no electrical problem at all. We took her for a drive last night. It was dusk and cold out so the blower was on as was radio & headlamps. After a while I noticed the 'IGNITION' light was on. This light gets dimmer as I turned things off, gets brighter and I revved the engine but never goes out completely. Do any of you electricians out there know what's going on here? http://jhppg.com/gallery/74-Jensen-Healey-15851 |
|||||||||
|
Mark Rosenbaum Member 
|
First, check the wires to the alternator, the main battery junction on the heavy battery positive cable, and the battery connections themselves. Also check the engine ground strap to make sure it's still there and still tight. Sometimes you get poor contact or broken wires due to age and vibration. From the symptoms you describe, it doesn't sound much like a problem with the battery itself, but if you have a hydrometer, you can check the specific gravity of the acid in each battery cell and determine if there's a battery fault of some sort. Third, check the alternator. The easiest way to troubleshoot one is to take it to an auto parts store in your area that tests alternators for free. Also, make sure the fan belt actually spins the alternator pulley without slippage. Last edited on 05-23-2006 11:52 pm by Mark Rosenbaum |
|||||||||
|
colinw59 Member
|
It looks like it's the Lucus alternator, that's only has 200 miles on it since new! It's output is zero and I've eliminated everything else (I hope). The thing that's still confusing me though is the fact that the IGNITION light is not comming on at any time (the bulb is good). Perhaps a wire is bad. The system was overcharging at first, 15V, then this light would get brighter as I revved the engine and dimmer as I loaded the system, and then the bulb blew! The reverse of what it's supposed to do. I have a replacement on the way from Delta and I'll see if this changes the IGNITION light situation at all. |
|||||||||
|
Judson Manning Member 
|
Do check everything Mark suggests, it's amazing how complex problems tend to have very simple solutions. I had similar over-charging problems on an old Delco unit of mine, it turned out to be a bad rebuild. The 'ignition' light is wired directly to the alternator. If you ground it with the ignition switch 'on' it should illuminate. Lucas has (2) 3/8" Positive terminals and (1) 1/4" terminal for the 'ignition' light. Delco has the same number of terminals, but one 3/8" terminal is wired to ground. On an originally equipped Delco car, it is very easy to incorrectly attach the groud wire (used w/ Delco, NOT with Lucas) and blow the Lucas diodes sky high. |
|||||||||