Low revs / battery

[Andrew V]

Tizzy (as she's been named by my girlfriend!) sometimes has a problem with idling at very low revs. I've noticed that this occurs when the battery votage is low (say around 11.5 to 12). Is this a coincidence?

Seperately, I don't understand why the battery voltage is low. Last week I drove quite a lot cos we had great weather in Luxembourg and no problem with the battery voltage till Thursday for no apparent reason. Then after a couple fo quiet days no problems when started on Sunday. Any ideas?

Andrew

[S3 Kieran]

Don't have an answer for you, but mine sits bang in the middle of the gauge (13 volts) and it idles at a smidge under 1000rpm.

(I assume you know the battery light doesn't go out until you've revved it to approx 2000rpm)

[Andrew V]

Thanks Kieran
well this morning she idled just as she should, just under 13 on the battery and just under 1000rpm at idle. Wierd cos other days it can be 11-12 and 500rpm. WHen this happens it's the embaresment of stalling when I brake that's difficult to bear!

[Le TVR]

Mine has idle at 850rpm and reads 13v.
But there are the occasional days when idle drops to 5-600 and volts drop a little as the alternator isnt really effective at such rpm. Can drop to 12 or so when the fan kicks in at idle in such cases.

Cleaning every electrical connector in sight is usually a good first step. (Followed by looking for the hidden ones)

If in doubt compare the dash voltmeter (notoriously inaccurate) with a digital DVM.

[Andrew V]

Many thanks, I'll do what you suggest.

What made me ask the question was a visit to a restaurant - open top car, gorgeous girlfriend, drive past with a rumble, heads turn from other customers, turn at the roundabout, come back, brake to turn in and.....stall! Grilfriend says in lound voice "maybe I should drive in future darling"!

[S3 Kieran]

Ouch

Other halves tend to do that, and you can't train them out of it either! I've been with my wife 10 years, and she still does it.

Other day - driving thru' multi-storey. She starts nagging about an old codger walking back to his car with a ticket - looking at his ticket, not my car. She had a point so I stopped. He then proceeded to walk straight into my front wing. He rubbed his thigh, looked shocked, and then me missus shouts (open window) "What did you do that for - I told you to stop." Codger now decides it's my fault he walked into a stationary car and looks angry/disgusted at me. I quickly shout back that he had hit me and should look where he was going. She was all for jumping out of the car and apologising - which is a very benevolent thought, but these days is not received with thanks but lawsuits. He walked of staring and muttering, but obviously knowing it was his fault after all.

I then drove off, and she tore into me saying I could now be done for leaving the scene of an accident...... I give up!

[Andrew V]

Kieran

Salutory tale - don't follow the Hyancith Bucket instructions of one's partner.........

Saying that though, had a great spin last night round the Lux countryside and offered to let girlfriend drive and she said no, she preferred to be a passenger! Whew......