alternator charge light glowing

[Griffter]

I've started using my car daily, and noticed the following:

Set off, headlights on, all well.
After about 10-15 miles, alternator light begins to glow very dimly (wouldn't be visible in daylight).
Voltmeter showing 13 volts when driving, 11 volts with ignition on, engine off.

Leave car all day.

Set off on return journey, headlights on, alternator light glowing brighter than in the morning but still not fully 'on'.
Voltmeter showing 13 volts etc.
About 2 miles from home, alternator light goes out, all well again.

I've checked the alternator belt tension and that's fine. The belt's newish too.
Anything to worry about?
Is it just glowing a bit because the battery is charging and it's not a perfect system?
Can I rely on the voltmeter reading to indicate a healthy alternator output?
I've never really used the car at night before, so this is new to me - after 3 1/2 years!!!

Any experience suggestions welcome...cheers.

Edited by Griffter on Tuesday 16th January 07:32

[davetherave1970]

I don't know if the Griff has a "big fuse" but that could have a hair line crack! Cerb did this to me.
Just a thought

[Griffter]

davetherave1970 said:

I don't know if the Griff has a "big fuse" but that could have a hair line crack! Cerb did this to me.
Just a thought

No big fuse on mine, earths all good too. Thanks though.

[bluebottle]

My current Griff has always done it and was told TADTS.
2 years on and still no flat battery, I was given an explanation but can't remember what it was now

[spend]

I even installed a voltmeter (on Chim) due to this. Mine appears as though +/- 1.5v between dash ignition circuit and alt sense just makes the led glow - works fine if substited with ordinary bulb. It is just that you see it clearly at night... Never got round to finding a LED replacement.

Dave

[jester7]

When i bought mine and checked the history, the 1st owner spent a fortune on having the glowing light investigated by TVR. It still glowed!!! Ive since fitted a push button start
now it doesnt glow??

[Digga]

Griffter said:

davetherave1970 said:

I don't know if the Griff has a "big fuse" but that could have a hair line crack! Cerb did this to me.
Just a thought

No big fuse on mine, earths all good too. Thanks though.

You will have a big fuse, it's just ****ing hard to find!

It's located on the lower RHS main (longitudinal) chassis rail. The fuse is a sort of blade type thingy (either one 100W or two 50W ones sandwiched together) held inside a sort of plastic cover.

They do go and also give trouble if the retaining bolts are loose. I've had both happen to me, the first time I thought the alternator had blown (and so did the AA man who arrived to assist me) but it was just this fuse.

All Griff & Chim owners should make sure they are familiar with this fuse and it's peculiarities.

[Podie]

Digga said:

Griffter said:

davetherave1970 said:

I don't know if the Griff has a "big fuse" but that could have a hair line crack! Cerb did this to me.
Just a thought

No big fuse on mine, earths all good too. Thanks though.

You will have a big fuse, it's just ****ing hard to find!

It's located on the lower RHS main (longitudinal) chassis rail. The fuse is a sort of blade type thingy (either one 100W or two 50W ones sandwiched together) held inside a sort of plastic cover.

They do go and also give trouble if the retaining bolts are loose. I've had both happen to me, the first time I thought the alternator had blown (and so did the AA man who arrived to assist me) but it was just this fuse.

All Griff & Chim owners should make sure they are familiar with this fuse and it's peculiarities.

There are some cars out there with TWO 100A fuses...

Edited by Podie on Tuesday 16th January 11:30

[spend]

Podie said:

There are some cars out there with TWO 100A fuses...

.. and some early cars with 0!

Dave

[Podie]

spend said:

Podie said:

There are some cars out there with TWO 100A fuses...

.. and some early cars with 0!

Dave

maybe that's why some have 2!

[spend]

Podie said:

spend said:

Podie said:

There are some cars out there with TWO 100A fuses...

.. and some early cars with 0!

Dave

maybe that's why some have 2!

I'll have you know that mine went from 0 to 3 - and I have invoices for all of them! I will prosecute if your slanderous remarks continue :-)

Dave

[Podie]

spend said:

Podie said:

spend said:

Podie said:

There are some cars out there with TWO 100A fuses...

.. and some early cars with 0!

Dave

maybe that's why some have 2!

I'll have you know that mine went from 0 to 3 - and I have invoices for all of them! I will prosecute if your slanderous remarks continue :-)

Dave

[Griffter]

Reassuring TADTS comments - thanks. Bit unnerving on a wet windy M4 though...

[simon.b]

Sounds like the big fuse to me, I’ve had two go both with the same symptoms.

The first had a hairline crack that wasn’t visible so I changed the alternator first, Dohh.

[Corky]

Happened to me 2 months ago, it was the fuse on the chassis.

[spend]

You can tell them as much as want Griffter, but they just wont listen. All these people keep telling you its the big fuse, eventually you will get so tired of telling them "Ive not got one" - "oh its just hard to find" - "no Ive got an early car they dont have them" - "ahh your just too much of a girl to find it"...... You'll just give in eventually & retro fit one (I put three in just to make up for the fuseless years you will need at least 4) then you can breakdown like everyone else & feel a part of something bigger in your life instead of being treated like you're a liar or too stupid to find your fuse.

Dave

PS Best thing about early cars is they dont have the stupid alternator fuse so are 100% more reliable!

[lastlawyer]

@ Griffter:

I drive my Griff daily for 3 years now. Don´t want to five up any comments here ! I personally think you prob is simple and realy your alternator (the machine sourcing your cars electrics). Had the same prob an drove mine till the car stopped cause of total lack of any electrics. If it is a red light in the middle of your dash (between the speedo and the revs - and yours is a 4.3) you really can´t see that light glowing-up during day. change the fuses, a change from the mighy 40 amp to the 30 amp fuse could probably do the job for some days . but still seems to me like an alternator which is not giving enough power to the "electric-eating" griff.

the alternator from a newer ford mondeo is a good and cheap spare part. it fits a 4.3 perfectly - hope your car too.

good luck

LastLaywer

[lastlawyer]

dear spend,

nice to see that you drive a ferrari. and the sofas are so far ...

but please leave & give helpfull comments to the people in here or please let it be. this forum should be still reserved for those who would really like to drive their tvrs. and therefore any help is allways wellcome and sometimes very helpfull.

but please be so kind to tell me when i was wrong.

regards

LL

[spend]

Dont know what offended you, but since:

Oops...

Sorry, the address of the person you're trying to email isn't valid.

occurred

I will say publicly I'm not sure what you are referring to, so its a bit hard to contemplate an apology, hint taken I'll stay in the Chim forum for a while... bis dann.

Dave

[Griffter]

Spend is right THERE IS NO BIG FUSE! I've looked and looked and traced the big red cables. NO FUSE! I believe the earliest precats are fuse-less.
As for the alternator - I hope you are wrong LastLawyer! But thanks for the story and the hint for a Mondeo alternator. That's interesting.