well last night, i ran out of fuel lolbut got some more then all was good, drove for about 3/4 an hour, with a few stops in between.

then i was driving alongand my headlights got dimmer and none of my other electricals worked, blinkers brake lights..

and the engine started backfiring and coughing and splattering.

so i pulled over and turned the lights off, and it ran almost purfectly

was still a little sluggish, but was alot better.

it seemed when the lights were on it was stealing my revs and wouldnt do anything

anyone have anyideas???

cheers jamie

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-jamie-
1963morris 850
1965 solid side van
1994 rover racecar

Blat Fattery?

Check that the alt is charging.

Check your earths etc etc.

sounds like ur alt is on the way out. or a mega mega flat battery. but if you started off the night okay, then what I would theorise is that the battery was running the car, and the alt was not charging enough to keep all the lights running etc.

Gotta be Alternator!

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(\_/)
(O.o) <CoPy> <) MaY oBtAiN wOrLd DoMiNaTiOn.

Does it go ok again if you let it idle for a while without all the light, radio etc. going? Is the alt charging enough to just run the car? Did you notice if your IGN light was on while driving home?

I would check the battery first (cause it's easiest) and then the alternator (or generator?) - you may still be able to save your battery if you didn't run it down too far.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Just stick a multi meter on the battery, should be about 12+ volts with car off, then start it, with some revs etc it should go up to 15+ volts.

Make sure all wires are still connected to you alt, as if the charge wire etc has come off, your runnin only on battery - and this won't get you too far!

When my alternator was knackered the lights would go dim, no indicators then would konk out, then needed to be jumped started again. Then 2 minutes later same again.
I'd say alternator

ok well, its strange, cos it drove perfect without the lights on

but i hopped in it thismorning and everything worked.

i have been thinking, last night it was f^&%en cold, under 1 degree, so would it have been possible taht tehre was moisture in the air getting into things???

everythng works now, battery is a brand spanker , and its a generator!!


hmmmmmm

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-jamie-
1963morris 850
1965 solid side van
1994 rover racecar

it wouldnt explain the lights dimming, but if you were doing highway work the manifold could of iced up and that will effect its ability to idle, if your running an SU then as the air gets denser (from the cold) the car will run lean.

but I doubt this is your problem, because it wont explain the lights

could be a dud battery my have droped a cell get a hydrometer and test the acid in the battery ..... but as already stated check voltage with car off anything under 12 volts is a issue with the car running the voltage should rise if this is the case you have a stuffed battery ... new batterys can die to how long was it sitting at the shop b4 u bought it
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

Jim,

It sounds like a charging problem, aswell as all of the other suggestions above check your fan belt tension / condition. As it only happened at night with a load on the alternator the fan belt could be slipping. This means it wont be able to generate enough power to compensate for the increase load and it wont charge properly.

Cheers,
Matt

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External voltage regulator for the generator jammed open or closed (whichever one stops it from charging), nothing a squirt with WD40 wouldnt fix?

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I can only please one person per day,
Today is not your day,
Tomorrow is not looking good either.

its wierd lol.

i might just try driving it during the day for a while with the lights on and see if it generates the same symptoms. i will try some of the abovementioned therious cheers

thanx for ur help everyone

jamie

_________________
-jamie-
1963morris 850
1965 solid side van
1994 rover racecar

I vote fan belt slipping/alternator not charging as everyone else..

The lights take a lot of power to run - by turning them off you have masked the problem.

Try revving it right out - if it isn' charging properly it will stutter in the higher rev range..

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

i think thats right


edit: it is b cos the lights were generally ok at low speeds, then whhen u got quicker,, that was when it started backfiring and lightds dieing more.

so i best get a alternator to put in, stuff the old generator..

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-jamie-
1963morris 850
1965 solid side van
1994 rover racecar