3000M voltage issues...

[MattT350T]

Heh all
My 3000M doesn't like to charge at full voltage until 30mins or so into a journey and then suddenly springs into life and all is well from then on. I've assumed to date that it's an alternator issue but was wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar and solved the problem at all please?

Also I've noticed that the Smiths meter reads a little low (1V) when compared to a voltmeter across the battery. This could be due to poor wiring and voltage loss to the meter, I have yet to check but I was wondering if there is a history of this and whether there was any way to recall rate the gauge??

Many thanks in advance..

[GadgeS3C]

The gauges in our 3000M take a little warning up, or a bit of a tap. Rev counter usually needs a gentle tap, temp gauge a bigger one. Much better if used regularly.

Could be the voltmeter isn't correctly reading for a while? Have you checked the voltage with a separate meter before the alternator kicks in on the voltmeter?

[bluezeeland]

Could it be the belt being tired or of wrong section (should be 10.5 mm (3/8" in old money)) ?

If you want I've got the part n° for the correct Gates belts (just had to change mine......)

[oldgeebee]

If you measure battery voltage without the engine running (fully charged = 13.2V) then the voltage with the engine running should be higher (13.5V - 14V) if the alternator is working. Generally, if there's an issue with the alternator output the ignition light will not go out (or come on e.g. if the fan belt snaps). A slipping fan belt might cause this but generally you can hear it slipping but also easy to check if it's slack/knackered.
If the battery voltage is OK with the engine running then a low reading on the gauge could be due to calibration (unlikely, unless someone has already had a fiddle with it) or non-use (tap it as mentioned above) or a bad earth (probably behind the dash and probably the earth wire under the fixing nut for the gauge).

GB