Charge after rev

[scourslane]

Hi,

One of my problems when i start car, as shown on voltmeter doesnt go up and doesnt charge, as u can see by instrument panels there all dim, and when i found out one day when i got the car, and i never got told about it! after it got really flat it was system shutdown!

What i did investigate and find out is that if you give a bit of a rev, it then shoots up and shows a charge, and all lights shine as normal.

i was told alternator and batt was replaced in november,

any ideas

cheers

[scourslane]

just checked, no. doesnt come on even when ignition is on at first either.

sounds like have to excite the alternator to get to charge i understand that

[James_Mould]

Have you checked the connections on the alternator, maybe theres a loose one. Does the battery light stay on?

[scourslane]

no battery light comes on at all, not even with ignition, i got the volt meter on centre console, havent checked connections on the basis that once revved to excite it, and volt meter shoots up, it will stay like that all time, and not drop at any point

[scourslane]

bulb in dash? a fiddly job i guess? but yes ok should be working but that aint going to be the solving of the exciting business

[scourslane]

so the bulb on the dashboard that comes on with ignition, and goes out after starting, powers the alternator? how? im lost?

[marko]

the bulb behind the dash needs to work for the alternator to kick in straight away, otherwise it take a few revs.

[scourslane]

wow learn something new every day, how big is the job of replacing the bulb

[MarkV6]

wow learn something new every day, how big is the job of replacing the bulb

You need to remove the cowling from the steering column, the cover below the instrument panel, then the instruments themselves. Should be about 30-45 minute job if you've not done it before.

[scourslane]

what type of bulb do i get to replace them? with it not working, theres nothing that can trip it out to blow is there? or would it have just gone with age/wear

[Fraz]

or if you hands are small enough you can get up through the fuse box ....and its a 509T bulb

[Calibra_Mike]

If you disconnect the speedo cable be warned you might end up with what I have, a bouncing speedo, I have had my speedo out about 5 times trying to stop the needle bouncing and still no joy...

[david0457]

I did this job today and found it not too difficult. Couple of tips for those trying it: if you don't want to remove the speedo cable you can get a bit more slack in the cable and a bit more clearance to get your hand behind the instruments if you go under the bonnet, disconnect the clutch cable from its support bracket and manouevre the speedo cable the other side of the same bracket. Gave me just enough room to reach the panel bulb on the l/h side. While I had everything out I also replaced the heater control panel bulb which has never worked since I've owned the car. Managed to reach the bulb holder with a pair of thin nose pliers which saved me disconnecting the heater control cables. Hope this helps anyone attempting this job and I agree the Haynes manual definitely helps.