Voltage reading on display

[coach]

Wonder if anyone can shed any light..

Have a slight musty & hot smell in the cabin when car has warmed up. Checked the carpets - nope, checked if it is blowing in from vents - nope.

Has coincided with me noticing that the voltage reading on the selectable display is fluctuating rapidly between 12.1v and 12.8v

Any thoughts whether these are connected?

If not is the reading low anyway? Battery or fused link under air-box?

Crumbs! I always seem to bring along the nuggety little ones

[madbadger]

That does sound low.

Mine also reads a bit low. It was recently checked by the RAC, and was actually at 14.0v while reading 13.6v.

Don't think it should be down at 12.

[steve11]

With the engine running you should be seeing a figure above 13.

Get the alternator checked out.

[coach]

Thought it might be a bit low...

Yikes - thanks chaps

[targarama]

A low voltage reading has previously been linked to a dodgy 100A fused link between the battery and alternator too.

[VARLEYHYD]

Jez, The 100Amp altermator fuse under the airbox can cause this if its not tightened fully and then it starts to heatup and will fail.
if the tams same as the sagaris the main fuse is in the passenger footwell this could be hot musty smell the car has ??
Can also cause ECU to stutter

Edited by VARLEYHYD on Tuesday 3rd April 09:58

[coach]

Should I try the fuse under airbox or had I better ask a man who is far more competent?!

[coach]

AH HA!!

Right will have a look when I have a chance on Sunday!

Cheers Graham

Coach

[VARLEYHYD]

jez, There is a photo of this fuse on that web link i have sent you before, and below in passenger fotwell in sagaris. Let me know.

Edited by VARLEYHYD on Wednesday 21st March 10:24

[coach]

Thanks Graham

Finally got to the bottom of it on Sunday

The Tam Fuse holder is similar to the one there - mounted differently

Basically the fuse had partially fractured and providing much much resistance/arc - causing cable to overheat on one side, melting fuse holder partially and darkening insulation. Clues were smell, low voltage on pod and stuttering at 6K RPM (not enough juice for ignition?)

Replaced fuse, holder, locking nuts etc (big thanks to Clevor Trevor) - hey presto - very quick, non smelly Tam again. Also been advised that the fuse should be 100amp, not the 80amp

Hope this helps someone else - judging by the melted fuse holder - it could have been worse

Coach

[bertbert]

coach said:

Thanks Graham

Finally got to the bottom of it on Sunday

The Tam Fuse holder is similar to the one there - mounted differently

Basically the fuse had partially fractured and providing much much resistance/arc - causing cable to overheat on one side, melting fuse holder partially and darkening insulation. Clues were smell, low voltage on pod and stuttering at 6K RPM (not enough juice for ignition?)

Replaced fuse, holder, locking nuts etc (big thanks to Clevor Trevor) - hey presto - very quick, non smelly Tam again. Also been advised that the fuse should be 100amp, not the 80amp

Hope this helps someone else - judging by the melted fuse holder - it could have been worse

Coach

Phew, that was close. Mrs Bert's Galaxy set itself on fire when one of the fusible links did this.

Bert

[coach]

[quote=bertbert

Phew, that was close. Mrs Bert's Galaxy set itself on fire when one of the fusible links did this.

Bert[/quote]

[bertbert]

coach said:

bertbert said:

Phew, that was close. Mrs Bert's Galaxy set itself on fire when one of the fusible links did this.

Bert

TADTS
Bert

[maddog-uk]

I think mine is ok, it drops when I connect the ipod, but its about 13.2-13.6 under normal driving with the occassional dip under 13.

[hollowpockets]

maddog-uk said:

I think mine is ok, it drops when I connect the ipod, but its about 13.2-13.6 under normal driving with the occassional dip under 13.

same here and still on original battery!

[maddog-uk]

Me too, do keep it conditioned mind!

[hollowpockets]

i go offshore now and again for a week or two, once for three and in jan/feb my car sat for 6 weeks while i was er, cough banned/offshore.
Other than that it doesnt sit any longer than 2 days without being used, i havent got one of those trickle chargers either, touch wood its always started first time.