Low Ammeter Readings with Lights, Aircon = OK?
#21
Cheers. RH is seen from the cabin, right? Battery connections could be a little bit dodgy, come to think of it. A while back I noticed the negative terminal wasn't on as well as it could be on. Fixed it, but it could have worked loose again.
I wonder if we should adopt "port" and "starboard" when referring to cars. That's universal and unambiguous, provided you can remember which is which. Which is pretty easy once you know what they mean. Starboard is "steering board," the side you steer ships from, which is the right (sorry, Americans/Europeans. Right is right, it seems), and Port is the side you park your boat against the port--again, not helpful for Americans and those Napoleon screwed with....
I wonder if we should adopt "port" and "starboard" when referring to cars. That's universal and unambiguous, provided you can remember which is which. Which is pretty easy once you know what they mean. Starboard is "steering board," the side you steer ships from, which is the right (sorry, Americans/Europeans. Right is right, it seems), and Port is the side you park your boat against the port--again, not helpful for Americans and those Napoleon screwed with....
#22
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Some Day, Some Day (07-05-2018)
#23
Just a minor update. I had to take the car in for its biennial official government-required inspection (got out of there for only US$1300 equivalent, including the other stuff I asked them to look at), so got the garage to check a few things, including the jolts at idle. They said that rather than the alternator, it was likely to a coil acting up.
Is this likely? One's already been replaced after it failed and I nearly had a cat fire, so if the other is showing signs of old age, I'd naturally prefer to fix it before it goes completely, rather than after.
PS: The bulk of that hideous cost for the inspection is government taxes in various forms.
PPS: They regassed the aircon and it blows nice and cool now. The clutch can be temperamental, however. Possibly an electromagnet issue. Might just be a bad ground.
Is this likely? One's already been replaced after it failed and I nearly had a cat fire, so if the other is showing signs of old age, I'd naturally prefer to fix it before it goes completely, rather than after.
PS: The bulk of that hideous cost for the inspection is government taxes in various forms.
PPS: They regassed the aircon and it blows nice and cool now. The clutch can be temperamental, however. Possibly an electromagnet issue. Might just be a bad ground.
#24
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so got the garage to check a few things, including the jolts at idle. They said that rather than the alternator, it was likely to a coil acting up.
Is this likely? One's already been replaced after it failed and I nearly had a cat fire, so if the other is showing signs of old age, I'd naturally prefer to fix it before it goes completely, rather than after.
Is this likely? One's already been replaced after it failed and I nearly had a cat fire, so if the other is showing signs of old age, I'd naturally prefer to fix it before it goes completely, rather than after.
Did they offer anything more by way of explanation? I might be missing something but I can't make any connection between a suspicious ignition coil and low charging system voltage.
Cheers
DD
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Some Day, Some Day (07-13-2018)
#25
No, not really. Just said "No, it won't be the alternator" (when pressed, the guy said it was fine), and that the coil should [probably: I can't remember how emphatic he was] be replaced.
To be clear, this isn't in relation to low charging voltage, but to the jolts/quick but small rev jumps the car can make idling when then engine's fully warm and the revs are at their lowest. He's not sure on the low voltmeter, but says the alternator's fine. (If it's related or not, the car does start normally. The voltmeter drops, it seems, in concert with the revs, which to my ignorant eyes does suggest a struggling alternator.)
Oh, and the battery's fine, apparently. That's one of the standard mandated check items.
To be clear, this isn't in relation to low charging voltage, but to the jolts/quick but small rev jumps the car can make idling when then engine's fully warm and the revs are at their lowest. He's not sure on the low voltmeter, but says the alternator's fine. (If it's related or not, the car does start normally. The voltmeter drops, it seems, in concert with the revs, which to my ignorant eyes does suggest a struggling alternator.)
Oh, and the battery's fine, apparently. That's one of the standard mandated check items.
Last edited by Some Day, Some Day; 07-14-2018 at 01:06 AM. Reason: Train of thought got derailed....
#26
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Some Day, Some Day (07-14-2018)
#27
Thanks. This should, at least, be something even I can manage....
I don't like Rockauto much, mind--their international shipping is bloody expensive. I'll take a look, however.
Actually, quite cheap, with very cheap shipping, too.
I don't like Rockauto much, mind--their international shipping is bloody expensive. I'll take a look, however.
Actually, quite cheap, with very cheap shipping, too.
Last edited by Some Day, Some Day; 07-14-2018 at 01:04 AM.
#28
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Some Day, Some Day (07-14-2018)
#29
#30
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#31
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