1990 Turbo R alternator

[bergxu]

Going to put this past the UK consortium;

Has anyone here ever overhauled or had their alternator professionally overhauled on their Turbo R/Spirit/Spur? I just had mine done and now have an errant battery warning coming up on the DIP even though the alternator is charging. The reason I had it overhauled to begin with is because my voltmeter was reading quite low, particularly at hot idle after exiting the expressway with the headlamps, A/C and auxiliary fans on. I had them change the stator to a 140A type from 120A, also change the voltage regulator and diodes. When you first start the car and are not running any accessories, the charging output is great; 14.5 volts, but gradually drops as things warm up and you begin to use accessories. With the car at hot idle and everything going, I'm getting 12.8-13 volts at best, so there's a drop somewhere in the system. Would appreciate any info if anyone has dealt with this issue before. I did remove the ground strap at the right hand engine mount and cleaned the eyelets and applied some dielectric grease, but that has resulted in no change.

I've heard that the battery cut-off switch can have a big voltage drop across it. Anyone here confirm this?

Cheers,
Aaron

[bergxu]

Stuart,

I had the battery load tested and it checked out ok. It is a fairly new Interstate brand (one of the best US brands) battery. Earthing points are clean, esp at the alternator mount and the ground strap at the RH engine mount. Will check the earth point of the neg battery cable at its other end to be sure, but I think there is a voltage drop somewhere in the car, and that cut-off switch seems a likely culprit...

[bergxu]

Thanks Fox;

Any idea on where they may have obtained that replacement alternator from?

I was going to hit Flying Spares, my usual port of call for RR/B parts, however the alternator is a bone stock Delco CS-144, made right here in the good 'ol U.S. of A and so I didn't really want to pay FS prices for one of their alternators, all things considered...

BUT, they must have access to whatever gubbin inside it is that can play havoc with the DIP if it's not installed. Dunno...just a weird result now, but it's obviously something inside that they replaced here.

[bergxu]

Hmm, maybe I need to pack my alternator in my suitcase and have it done whilst we're there!

Speaking of which, not much has been done in the honeymoon planning 'itinerary' yet, as my wedding is less than two weeks away (May 27th) and we're also in the midst of buying a new house, so things are a bit crazy right now as you may imagine. That being said, once everything cools down some, I will set to work on getting our week's schedule straight for Blighty. She really wants to see Paris for at least a day, but I've told her that I don't think she is anticipating how much travel/time will be involved in getting from East Sussex to Paris. That being said, what is the easiest way to get over? Eurostar? Ferry? Fly? And how long approximately does a channel crossing take on water?

Cheers,
Aaron

[bergxu]

silverfoxcc said:

Aaron,
as much as i enjoy the trip on the boat, Eurostar from Ashford is the way, right to the middle of Paris, Grab a guided bus tour for 'everything' then in order try and do Notre Dame, Sacre Cour and the Eiffel, although the queues here pm are a bit long. Get the last train back to Ashford. Where in East Sussex will you be staying?

Ron (right?),

We will be staying in Buxted. Some family friends of ours own a 16th century cottage there (Horseshoes Farmhouse is the name). Looks to be exactly what I was after, as I did not want to stay in or near London, having spent more than enough time there years back. I will, of course, take her to London to see the tourist traps there, but also want to expose her to proper English countryside, hence where we are staying.

Appreciate the tip on the Eurostar choice. How long is that journey approx?

Cheers,
Aaron

[bergxu]

Ron,

Fab. Thanks for the detail. So is the 198.00 quid round trip for us both?

I didn't plan on renting a car over there, although one PH member has possibly offered us the use of his Turbo R during our week tenure (although I'm sure fuelling it will cost more than renting something, lol, but I don't care...it'd be swell to tour England in a Turbo R...would be just like home). Anyhow, what I was getting at is the driving portion from Buxted to Ashford--will need to either sort a car or hire a cab unless we do get that Turbo R

You a resident of Paris then?

If I can't get the alternator sorted stateside, I may in fact pop it in the post and mail it over (to you) ahead of time and have you see who it is that overhauled yours then can bring it back on our return trip.

Cheers,
Aaron

[bergxu]

Cheers Ron, thanks!

I shall let you know how I get on with the alternator fix over here and if necessary, will make arrangements to have it re-done over there. And yeah, no plan to rent a car in Paris....I'm sure it's insane...

Cheers,
Aaron

[bergxu]

Ron,

Thanks for that. Yeah, I drove the car home last night (I keep my cars at my workshop which is near my office since I only have a one car garage at my house) and I think what the issue may be is that when everything warms up, the phantom voltage drop really begins to draw down everything. I stopped by my buddy's shop this morning, he is a Crewe-trained RR/B specialist and told him that after the wedding, I'll pop the car over to him and let him go through the various connections, etc...to see if he can nail down the cause. One thing that is pretty telling is that when you turn the headlamps on, the exterior temperature gauge jumps up by 10 degrees, so there's some voltage weirdness going on. Not to mention, my voltmeter is reading lower than what my multimeter shows at the battery and my oil pressure gauge pegs to high straight away (which I thought was a duff sending unit, so I put a new one in and still the same problem), so finally, after four Bentleys and two Rolls-Royces, I have my first Crewe product with electrical problems. Not too bad I suppose

Cheers,
Aaron

Edited by bergxu on Friday 18th May 15:20

[bergxu]

Alex,

Wow! I am speechless...

So ah, fancy an all-expenses paid vacation to Cincinnati, Ohio for a week???

Oh, and congrats on the Mk. IV Turbo. That's what I had before I got my current one. I figured since I had a 20,000 series then a 50,000 series, now it was time for me to try the middle child 30,000 series. I'll say, I did love the performance of my '96

Cheers,
Aaron

Edited by bergxu on Monday 21st May 02:25

[bergxu]

Alex,

Indeed I've heard multiple stories about Mk.IV Turbo Rs blowing head gaskets, usually it's the '97-'98 models, at least on these shores, but mainly why I got rid of mine and went back to an older model was that I decided I preferred the aesthetics of the older cars such as the taller tires on 15" rims and the older style door and rear view mirrors as well as quarterlights in the front doors. All that plus I wanted to keep the Active Ride system, as I felt that my first Turbo R, an '89 was too wafty on standard suspension, but also didn't like the harshness with which my '96 crashed over bumps in the tarmac, so figured the 30,000 series car with Active Ride but tall tires would be a proper compromise, and so far I've been most pleased.

Yeah, I really could use someone with very in-depth knowledge about automotive electrical systems to sort my car out. I have a friend in town who's a Crewe-trained master RR/B guy but getting a car on his schedule is like pulling teeth, and then they tend to sit there for weeks on end while he gets caught up on his schedule (brilliant mechanic, bad timekeeper!)..

I am to be married this weekend and we will be coming to England for our honeymoon in August. I've been a few times before but my bride has never been out of the 'States, so we're looking forward to it very much. We'll be staying in Buxted, East Sussex in a family friend's 16th century cottage, so it will be a real proper taste of England for her I reckon

We fly over August 27th and are there till Sept 3rd, and I'm hoping I can rally you Piston Heads lot to bring your Turbo Rs out to some gathering so I can get my fix while I'm away from my other 'baby' for a week Please do join if/when we nail something down. Perhaps a night at the Ace Cafe in London? Oh, and I also plan to make a massive parts haul at Flying Spares whilst we're over so I can get this coming winter's worth of bits for my cars (I also have a Shadow II).

Cheers,
Aaron

[bergxu]

Alex,

Thank you for the suggestions on towns to visit. I've been to Edinburgh myself (I did a semester of college at three different universities in the UK---Edinburgh, U of North London and Trinity in Dublin). We shall certainly try to make Scotland but we only have a week so it'll be busy no doubt!

See this thread for more info on our trip plans

http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&amp...

Cheers man. Hope to see you and the Bent at the Ace!! I'll keep Piston Heads posted with updates when I do our itinerary!

Aaron

[bergxu]

Cheers Alex, PM sent!!

[bergxu]

Ron,

Indeed. With the kind help of a fellow PH'er (Alex), we're fairly well sorted I think. What night is the Ace? Thursday if I recall?

Cheers,
Aaron

[bergxu]

Ron,

We arrive on the 27th of August and depart to come home on the 3rd of Sept.

Cheers,
Aaron