Help, Ignition light wont go out.....

[K11 CHM]

Am in need of some help. My car was left for a few days and when I returned to it the battery was dead, replaced the battery but a day later flat again.

Anyway charged it up and fitted an isolator switch thinking something was draining the battery.

Battery flat again (over night), charged it up and went for a drive and ignition light came on, misfire at high revs, drove the car home (about 5 miles).

Checked alternator output and found it was not charging.

Fitted a new alternator but stil not charging, fitted a second new alternator and still not charging, all the time the ignition light being on. Left the new Valeo alternator on. Anyway removed the connector from the suppressor to the alternator and all was well...for about 5 miles then the light came back on....


Anyway thats the history but the problem is.

1. I have two thin wires (Thin brown and thin black) going to the alternator, I assume this is the ignition light circuit. The wiring diagram shows jusy one wire so could the black wire be going down to earth. There are also the two live thick brown wires...

2. I have heard that It could be the 100amp fuse..but..not sure if my car has one (May 93 4.0L) as I have 12v on the two thick brown wires so if the fuse was blown would I only get 12v on one of them?

3. Has the suppressor got anything to do with the charging circuit or is it for the radio reception, seems weired it cured it for a few miles?

It seems like the ignition light feed is going down to earth or am I just missing somethig simple?

Thanks in advance.

Adam

[greenv8s]

Stock answer is check the fusible link since that can cause these symptoms.

If that is OK or you don't have one, you will need to do more investigation: The ignition warning light shows that there is a voltage difference between the switched ignition feed to the alternator, and the alternator output. I would start by finding out whether the problem is no output from the alternator, or low voltage on the switched ignition feed.

[trefor]

The 100A fusible link may not have completely gone, but may be playing up meaning no charge to the battery and failure at odd times, like under load which you describe.

It's under the engine, bolted to the chassis in a small black box on the drivers side. 70p from www.tvrgear.com.

[jodie]

I have exactly more or less the same symptoms with the ignition light but mine stay's on all the time.
Spent all day yesterday searching for that fusible link but could not locate it,i read on some earlier forum's that some of the early chimera's did not have the link fitted.If you have two live feeds then that link should be okay,provided of course that there is one.I am taking mine down to my local auto electrician for a bench test to confirm that a diode is on it's way out,which he can easily replace.I'll let you know how i get on.
Now i have a question.My rear brake spade fuse keep's blowing after being driven,any ideas or thoughts on that one.Cheers

[chim 500]

KIICHM My friend had same problem at was the 100amp fuse link hope this helps

>> Edited by chim 500 on Monday 12th January 15:40

[big_treacle]

i had this same problem last week. as suggested above, it was the fuse. car would be OK then lose power, then be OK, then be rubbish... when i got to the TVR garage it just stopped. according to them the fuse was wet, corroded and blown. no half measures there. i guess the wetness & corrosion caused the on/off performance & the blowing part made the car finally die.

[K11 CHM]

Thanks for all the advice. Think I have sorted it, found that my car does not have a 100amp fuse but does have 2 wires going to the bottom of the alternator (wiring diagram shows one). Have disconnected the black wire and all seems well.

[greenv8s]

Does the no-charge warning light still work i.e. when the engine is stopped ignition on?

>> Edited by greenv8s on Monday 19th January 16:58

[jigs]

You Chimaera owners really take the biscuit - you complain when something doesn't work and still complain when something does work. Give the poor ignition light a break he's doing his best.

[K11 CHM]

greenv8s said:

Does the no-charge warning light still work i.e. when the engine is stopped ignition on? >> Edited by greenv8s on Monday 19th January 16:58

Yep, still works fine. Ignition on, engine off = light on. Engine running = light off. The black wire was sending it to earth = light on all the time and no charge.

[ribol]

I know you say you have solved the problem but just out of interest, are you saying the black wire that was originally always connected is now not connected? But everything is back to normal and working properly?

Ivan

[K11 CHM]

ribol said:

I know you say you have solved the problem but just out of interest, are you saying the black wire that was originally always connected is now not connected? But everything is back to normal and working properly? Ivan

Yep, have spoke to a few dealers and the black wire is an add on, this wire must have gone down to earth when I had the body off and chassis rebuilt?