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ibo
P Plater
22 Posts
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 Posted - 10 Mar 2010 : 8:45:34 PM
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Hey guys i recently dropped a v8 into my vn calais. Was running fine till now. At first my battery would go flat and coulddn't start the car up, i thought it was my earthing on the engine so i earthed the engine. Was okay for a day and then the battery died again. Now the battery seems fine but when i start driving at night with the lights on or hav the wipers on when its raining, the car seems to be loosing power, everything dims and the wipers slow down and the cluster (which i put on from a vq v8) starts to beep, so i have to rev the engine and after about 20 seconds the car goes back to normal everything brightens up and is fine.Also sometimes my fuel gauge and temp gauege dont work coz theeir isnt enough power and the same thing will happen as mention with loosing power n den it will be fine. Any help to what could be causing this? Could it be my alternator? Cheers
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VNSVLE
Forum Moderator
1316 Posts
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Posted - 11 Mar 2010 : 08:40:43 AM
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Sounds like your voltage regulator. Easy job to do but first if you have a multimeter check your charge rate. Do this by setting the meter to DC volts and putting across your battery while it is running. If you do not have a meter follow the proceedure below -
To start the special functions, press and hold the RESET button while turning on the ignition.
There are three modes of operation, the 1st diagnostic display shows: speed in km/h, fuel in L/h, Button Test. In the button test a '0' should be displayed for each button pressed (trip computer only).
Press the mode button to change the display to the 2nd diagnostic display: Battery Voltage, Fuel tank sender Volts, Button Test again. For the fuel tank: Tank full approx 4.4V, Half full approx 6.6V, Empty tank approx 8.5V.
Press the mode button to energise all segments of the display.
Once you have determined what the charge rate is (should be approx 13.8 - 14.2 volts) If it is alot lower than this or very erratic it is a good chance your voltage regulator is buggered. The voltage reg is mounted to the back of your alternator and I think it is only a matter of a couple of screws/bolts to remove. Should only set you back about $20 - $30 if I can remember correctly.
Cheers
Wayne |
What's the difference between understeer and oversteer?
Understeer is when the driver is scared.
Oversteer is when the passenger is scared. |
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Mechknight73
National Driver
1001 Posts
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Posted - 14 Mar 2010 : 3:49:02 PM
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| Also check to make sure all earth leads are secure, and there's a firm connection on all of them. Sometimes it can be these hidden bugs that don't show themselves until something like this comes along. You fix the alternator, then it's still playing up, and you're not sure why. |
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ibo
P Plater
22 Posts
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Posted - 17 Mar 2010 : 8:20:06 PM
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| i hate electrical problems, do my head in. I checked the alternator today and it read low 13's but wen i gav it som gas it read around 13.8 n didnt go over. Now my brand new fuel pump is making a loud buzzing noise and car isnt running to well. When u giv it some gas wont go anywhere n back fire. i think the fuel pump is playing up. Did this a month ago n then it went quite and then yesterday started doing this. also the fuel and temp gauge dont move because of this problem any ideas if that cud still be the alternator? cheers guys |
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Mechknight73
National Driver
1001 Posts
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Posted - 17 Mar 2010 : 11:51:30 PM
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If your headlights are dim, your gauges don't read properly, and everything is working slowly (would take out your fuel pump and test it on the bench. Just to find out if it's the car, and not the pump that's the problem) Then it's a fair bet that is a big part of the problem. You might want to check the entire alternator, and EVERY connection to it. Also, make sure your battery teminals are secure at both ends, and free of any corrosion. If possible, swap the alternator out with one that you're certain is ok. If all is well with the new one, buy it and bench your old one. Strip it down and see exactly what died so that if it comes up again, not only will you have a spare, but you will instantly know and catch it before it causes you any more grief.
I had a simplified version of this problem in my HZ Kingswood. Ok, the fuel pump is mechanical, but because the bearing on the alternator was on the way out, it made a loud whirring noise, the headlights were dim, the gauges showed the opposite of what they should have, and things like the wipers barely worked at all. Changed the alternator, and all of the above stopped. |
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nodg
National Driver
1667 Posts
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Posted - 18 Mar 2010 : 06:10:39 AM
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| voltage regulator or brushes in the alternator.. The regulator is easy and cheap enough to swap over so id try that first after finding out what th charge rate is while the motors running. |
Cheers,
Nodg. |
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ibo
P Plater
22 Posts
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Posted - 18 Mar 2010 : 6:43:31 PM
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| okay guys iv ripped the alternator off and my mate is going to reco it tomorrow for me ill slap it in and let u know how it goes cheers guys :D |
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