electric problem
#1
Posted 16 January 2005 - 07:49 PM
Recently the battery has appeared to be a bit weak, and since the battery is only about 5 months old I put this down to little use of the car. Anyway, today, I was forced to jump start it, which was fine and a drove around all day today in it. Did at least 1 hours worth of driving. When I drove home, in the dark with the lights on, they were getting dim, when the engine was idling, then with the car sat as I was opening the garage, it conked out and didn't have enough juice in the battery to turn the engine over and get it started.
So, tested the battery with a volt meter, it said 12.15v which would appear to be enough, however I've stuck it on the charger for the timebeing. Any idea what the fault could be? alternator? or a short somewhere?
#2
Posted 16 January 2005 - 07:57 PM
#3
Posted 16 January 2005 - 08:03 PM
#4
Posted 16 January 2005 - 08:06 PM
#5
Posted 16 January 2005 - 10:16 PM
Have you checked the acid level?
Charge the battery, start the car and run it turn the lights on and rev it up, if the alterntor is charging you should be able to see the lights brighten as you rev it.
Not the best way to check but usually good enough.
Siggy
#6
Posted 16 January 2005 - 10:29 PM
We thought it was the alternator, or the connection to it, but after running two multi meters, one across the battery, one on the alternator . We found that the alternator was working fine and that it was charging the battery, but poorly, only 0.5v increase when at half throttle.
Rigged up a quick earth from the cylinder head to the body and it was great after that, working fine. Since got a new earth strap and the Sprite now has bright headlamps (at last!) and runs better too.
#7
Posted 17 January 2005 - 03:20 AM
#8
Posted 17 January 2005 - 09:18 AM
Try it and you should find your problems solved.
#9
Posted 17 January 2005 - 11:31 AM
#10
Posted 17 January 2005 - 11:33 AM
Are you talking about the earth connection from the battery to the car body, or is there another earth strap in the engine bay?Check your earth from engine to body, my car developed the same fault on the way back from Shropshire. It got back, then we got in it for my dad to give a me lift to work and it was completely flat.
We thought it was the alternator, or the connection to it, but after running two multi meters, one across the battery, one on the alternator . We found that the alternator was working fine and that it was charging the battery, but poorly, only 0.5v increase when at half throttle.
Rigged up a quick earth from the cylinder head to the body and it was great after that, working fine. Since got a new earth strap and the Sprite now has bright headlamps (at last!) and runs better too.
#11
Posted 17 January 2005 - 05:42 PM
#12
Posted 17 January 2005 - 11:03 PM
Siggy
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