electrical problems

[steve j]

Calling all S experts I have a couple of minor elec problems. I can`t find the fuse for the electric windows on my S2, I`ve checked the bible, it shows a fuse for an S3 but not a 2 . Also, the volt gauge is reading low, about 11 volts, the voltage on the battery is 12.4, even with the engine running and the alternator charging the reading is still low, anyone got any ideas please, cheers.
steve j.

[Le TVR]

The gauges are not the most accurate of devices treat them more as trend indicators rather than absolute values. Provided you can see around 13.2+ at the battery when running all is ok.

[GreenV8S]

Don't trust the numbers on the gauge, but if you've got an accurate volt meter and measured 12.4V across the battery with the engine running this would make me suspect a charging problem.

[steve j]

GreenV8S said:

Don't trust the numbers on the gauge, but if you've got an accurate volt meter and measured 12.4V across the battery with the engine running this would make me suspect a charging problem.

I did think of that, but the gauge shows 11 volts as soon as the ignition is on. For 10 years it`s been fine, the problem arose after a partial body lift, maybe that`s just coincidental.

[DamianS3]

Bad earth. After being disturbed.. Or just rubbish gauge.. Mine shows approx 2 volts less than actual voltage at all times.. I have a cheep power socket thing from eBay that shows correct. Only a couple of quid off the bay..

Cheers

Damian S3

[Oldred_V8S]

Does sound like dodgy wiring/connection somewhere. Check all earths and clean the connections to the volt gauge. Might want to run some voltage drop tests on the wiring to the guage.

What is the voltage on the battery posts with the engine running? Measure on the posts and not the connections.

[Barry S1]

The window fuse is a 20 or 30 at the bottom I'll take a picture tomorrow it's not on the diagram 😊

[NaCl]

Regarding the possible charging issue you have, is the battery actually being charged up by the alternator? Are you getting 12 volts or over at the battery terminals with the headlights on as you should be?

If not, did the alternator come off for the body-off work? There could be a broken wire inside like I had, caused when the smaller threaded terminal post rotated slightly when I undid the nut holding cable on.


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[steve j]

I`ve found the window fuse after a bit of searching, here it is http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=28&... Driver window still not working, so I`ll replace the switch.

[v8s4me]

It may just be a loose wire on the back of the switch, or a slightly worn contact. Swap the switches over and see if that fixes the problem. It did on mine. I think the switches might come apart, if that do you can clean the contacts. They are old tech and pretty bullet proof.

[phillpot]

v8s4me said:

I think the switches might come apart.

They do

[steve j]

Progress , the window now functions, I traced the voltage down to the connector on the motor, the motor was just clicking when power was applied. I stripped the brush housing off of the motor, 4 X small metal clips have to be straightened, the brush housing then pulls off. I cleaned and lubed the motor, the brushes and connectors and reassembled the housing. I`ve connected the motor to the wiring and it runs smoothly Jonesy is a happy bunny. Just got to chase up the low voltage on the volts gauge .

[magpies]

take the gauge off the car and try it on the battery and see what it reads - probably reads low when in the dash due to voltage drop along the cables.