Don't stop driving 'em

[350matt]

Its official the best thing you can do for your cerb is to drive it regularly, I've just got mine going again after haivn it up on axle stands for the past 3 weeks while I rebuilt the gearbox and changed the clutch slave seals.

It also needed an MOT but on the way there this morning, the alternator packed up and so I tried to pass the test just running on battery power but it was misfiring horribly so no chance on passing emissions there

And it failed on low handbrake power and split steering rack gaitors......

Sheesh

So what are the rack gaitors off?

And the alterantor come to that?

Matt

[itsallyellow]

I didnt drive mine for 2 weeks. now i have a missfire!!!!

[BCA]

Not been driven for two weeks (hols) and now has a fuel leak... im off to the airport later to help dad hopefully.

BAH!

[Extra 300 Driver]

350matt said:

So what are the rack gaitors off?

And the alterantor come to that?

Matt

Gaitors are from a Ford Granada, the Alternator is a TVR own unit. You could get it re-worked.

[350matt]

I plan to get the altrenator looked at by the local auto sparks place- hopefully only brushes or diode pack and which Ford granada is it? MKIII or II

Ta Muchly Matt

[RUSSELLM]

Mine's driven to work and back every day, except when it's having one of it's many repairs. New Clutch and new air con radiator this week, that said, the last clutch has been in almost 18 months.

I suppose I should be grateful

[gazzab]

I have got into the habit of driving mine every day but it is 76 miles round trip to work. So am friendly with the lovely (?) ladies at Tescos petrol station.

[trooperiziz]

Currently have to park in an off-site car park and bus it into the office, so I don't use the Cerb that often. (There is a security guard, but still...)

Should be moving offices soon and will be doing the tyne tunnel every day, so I think the Cerb will be coming out to play a bit more often

[Extra 300 Driver]

350matt said:

I plan to get the altrenator looked at by the local auto sparks place- hopefully only brushes or diode pack and which Ford granada is it? MKIII or II

Ta Muchly Matt

One from a '95 will do.

[byker28i]

What does everyone get as an average mpg? My first half tankful was 20mpg but that did include two lots of 20mins traffic jam.

We had a nice ride out to Bibury on Sunday to catch some fresh trout. Everyone looked as you drove through the village. Japanese tourist took pictures and one guy had his video camera going when we left.

I've now done 300 miles in it's first week...

[427james]

I try to run mine every couple of days. Drove it to Cambridge from the Isle of Dogs and back, hit buggering traffic (some t#sspots on push bike ruining the roads) and averaged about 17 overall.

[flashheart]

Driving on country lanes - 15mpg
Driving at 70 on a motorway for ages - 27mpg (unless you cane it out of service stations like what I do)

[RUSSELLM]

13 mpg to work and back, 27 mpg on a motorway run.

[trooperiziz]

RUSSELLM said:

13 mpg to work and back, 27 mpg on a motorway run.

What he said.

[Extra 300 Driver]

trooperiziz said:

RUSSELLM said:

13 mpg to work and back, 27 mpg on a motorway run.

What he said.

Snap with my old 4.2

[350matt]

Ok heres an interesting development

The sparky says there is nothing wrong with the alternator, but some cars are apparently switched to charging through the red ignition light on the dash.....

Now my red light isn't working, ie not lit at all even when you key on and do not crank, any ideas? and yes the bulb is OK....


Matt

[simonsparrow]

350matt said:

Ok heres an interesting development

The sparky says there is nothing wrong with the alternator, but some cars are apparently switched to charging through the red ignition light on the dash.....

Now my red light isn't working, ie not lit at all even when you key on and do not crank, any ideas? and yes the bulb is OK....


Matt

Broken wire or bad connection I guess? I recall that some alternators require a voltage to 'start them off' and this goes via the charge warning light. Once its spinning and producing charge something happens to turn the light off.

I think by tracing the reason why the light is not coming on is the right way to go.

[RUSSELLM]

Matt you haven't mentioned what your symptoms were to make you think you had a duff alternator.

[Julian64]

350matt said:

Ok heres an interesting development

The sparky says there is nothing wrong with the alternator, but some cars are apparently switched to charging through the red ignition light on the dash.....

Now my red light isn't working, ie not lit at all even when you key on and do not crank, any ideas? and yes the bulb is OK....


Matt

Strangely there is a fuse on the dashboard circuit itself. Vertical brown thing near the middle looking like a small resistor (which it is) with the word 'FUSE' written on the circuit board next to it in big helpful letters. I think you want to have a look at Mr Fuse. Might well get your red light back on

[350matt]

Russel
The battery wasn't charging and the light wasn't coming on at 1st ignition position,

Julian
I've tried measuring the fuse resistor and that measures at 1.0 - 0.9 Ohms so thats OK, all fuses are OK but aren't in series anyway from the variety of wiring diagrams I have (sadly not one of the whole car just bits and bobs)

Now what?

Presumably the alternator is switched by some kind of voltage regulator? but where does that live?

Matt