Message text written by "Stephane St-Amant"
>Hello all,
<snip>
But now I have a new problem. Yesterday, we were on our way back from the
in-laws cottage, the sun was setting and I only put the parking lights on
because for
the last little while (read last few months) I've noticed the Amp guage
going
bezerk. It's stays stable for a while and then goes on a frenzy up and
down
for a few seconds and then return to stable.
At speed (engine at around 4k rpm, the amp guage is a little over to the +
side.
With the parking lights on, it's just over the + side but with the
headlights
on, it's neutral. At idle, it's way over the - side.
I also noticed that sometimes, between the eratics moments of the guage, it
does stay a lot more on the + side. At those moments, my headlights are a
lot
brighther and I can actually see my guages at night!
Ok to the point now, yesterday, just before entering the city, I decided
to
turn on my headlights and after a few idle moments at streets lights, the
engine
decided to die just as I way taking off to cross a very busy intersection
(aren't
they always doing that at those places!). Tried to restart the engine,
nothing,
the starter wasn't turning, not even a click from the solenoid!
After letting all the other cars go by, I pushed the car on the side of the
road and tried to start the car again. Still nothing but the lights still
worked
in the dash and in the car. Turned everything off and waited about 30
seconds
while I was contemplating our options. Decided to try again... VROOOMMM,
Started
right up! reved it up a little. Everything seemed fine so, turned the
parking
lights on: ok, turned the headlights on: poof, engine dies again. Turn off
the lights, try to start it again, nothing. Wait 30 seconds... try to
start...
VROOOMMM.
<snip>
Here my assumption: Could it be that when the headlights are on, the
generator
is not putting out enough power to run the engine and I'm basically sucking
up the battery and at one point wasn't potting enough power for the coil?
But
still enough to run the lights but not the starter? And by turning
everything
off for a while, the battery gained enough juice to turn the starter?
<snip>
Thanks again
<
Steph,
If you battery can turn the starter it can certainly light the headlamps.
I do not believe the generator not keeping up with the load is the problem.
But I have a theory that can explain both symptoms:
Since you have a generator you also have a generator control box
(regulator) mounted on the firewall. I am not that familiar with Sprifires
but, if your control box is like the control boxes used in Big TR's and
Austin Healey's then there are two terminals to which are attached some
brown wires. In fact, the control box is used as a tie point for many
brown wires. These two terminals are connected within via a rivet. A
loose connection at this rivet can cause about half of the electrical
system to become disconnected from the source of electrical power. This
means that, depending on which brown wire is connected to which terminal,
you could have power to your headlamps while not having power to the
keyswitch (and hence the coil) causing the engine to die. This will also
leave your starter inoperative.
And, If this is also the source of voltage for the voltage regulating
portion of the control box it will see a low voltage and cause your
generator to go to full output which will cause the lights to be subjected
higher than normal voltage.
So, I would check this out, or as you say, go ahead with the alternator
conversion which will eliminate this control box and, I think, your
problem.
Felicitations and bon chance, mon ami.
Dave
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