a bit of panic!

[jamienshelly]

Hi all, Just a quickie for those of you who have not experienced these symptoms and if you do, the probable reason for them;
If everyone knows then sorry for the repeat.
On the way home last night I started to experience a massive flat spot at 4000 rpm on full throttle and it felt like fuel/air starvation, also coolant temperature gauge reading very low, no warning lights so thought fuelling issues and/or thermostat issues, checked it over when I got home and left to idle and temp rose and fans cut in as normal and revved beyond 4000rpm.
Went for a drive this morning and all seemed ok.
However on returning home from work, I noticed the wipers not parking correctly and then severe lack of power, pulled over and she cut out, went to restart and the battery was dead, bump started and nursed back to the workshop and the lights getting dimmer and dimmer so obviously a charging fault.
checked alternator and charging ok but not seeing a charge at the battery. checked the 100 amp fuse on the chassis and although looked ok it was cracked next to the retaining screw, replaced the fuse and all is good now.
Is it common to experience the lack of power and the coolant gauge reading low (all other gauges ok)
when the fuse has gone?. It all seemed very strange.

[Rib]

Yup the 100amp fuse is a common problem causing all sorts of issues on different cars, most people tend to see it as a service item now and change it each year

[JonathanT]

yes - had many of these symptoms (a big power flat spot that you could and oil pressure gauge reading below zero) whilst tanking along a french autoroute....

[jamienshelly]

I think I may change it every time I dip the oil etc, I would never have included the gagging under load fault to it though, just goes to show how mysterious our cars really are.
Do you know if many people move the fuse to a more sensible and accessable position, ie at the alternator, or is it on the chassis as its not subject to engine bay temperatures?.
I do hope that this information will help someone (someday).
Cheers
Jamie

[Sardonicus]

Never had problems in over 7 years I replaced the manky holder for a new original and refitted coating everything that can corrode in electrical grease, you will probably find Jamie than when the voltage drops below a certain threshold it will start affecting your inj dwell seeing as you have a correction table for altering voltages but only to a degree but more than likely it was ign failing under load not enough juice to run the lot the car may crank at 8 volts but your other electrical equipment may not be so accommodating

[jamienshelly]

Sardonicus said:

Never had problems in over 7 years I replaced the manky holder for a new original and refitted coating everything that can corrode in electrical grease, you will probably find Jamie than when the voltage drops below a certain threshold it will start affecting your inj dwell seeing as you have a correction table for altering voltages but only to a degree but more than likely it was ign failing under load not enough juice to run the lot the car may crank at 8 volts but your other electrical equipment may not be so accommodating

Cheers Simon, makes sense as it did seem as like a rev limiter was kicking in, I assume that the battery could not light the headlights and wind the coil up as fast I needed it too, as I say it was just a bit weird. 7 years!! I hope you were hanging on to a tree when you wrote that. lol.
regarding your PM, We are all well thanks and will have catch up soon, even if it's just for a fish and chip run.

[Sardonicus]

jamienshelly said:

Cheers Simon, makes sense as it did seem as like a rev limiter was kicking in, I assume that the battery could not light the headlights and wind the coil up as fast I needed it too, as I say it was just a bit weird. 7 years!! I hope you were hanging on to a tree when you wrote that. lol.
regarding your PM, We are all well thanks and will have catch up soon, even if it's just for a fish and chip run.

[Goaty Bill]

You have described the classic 100 amp fuse failure perfectly there.

jamienshelly said:

I think I may change it every time I dip the oil etc,

As it happens, the dealer that originally sold me my car, included a 100 amp fuse in virtually every service.
And that was strictly to TVR's service intervals for the first 60k miles.
Probably explains why I had never actually heard of the 100 amp fuse until she was 12 years old, (no longer serviced by that dealer), and one finally failed.

[jamienshelly]

I have found very cheap fuses (25p each) on the bay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-STRIP-LINK-100A-AMP...
I think that is a price you can't re-fuse!!.

[QBee]

jamienshelly said:

I have found very cheap fuses (25p each) on the bay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-STRIP-LINK-100A-AMP...
I think that is a price you can't re-fuse!!.

and a LINK to get some too.......

[Sardonicus]

FFS you guys ................... a right couple of Bright Sparks

[QBee]

Watt? No 100 amp fuse? You'll be ampered for getting ohm tonight....