Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,
At end of today's 70 mile journey ignition light was partially lit. Checked around, no obvious faults, loose/ worn wires etc .
Limited tools etc
Have 100 mile's to home tomorrow. Any suggestions welcome?

Loose drive belt?

Oldiebut goodie wrote:Loose drive belt?

Belt is fine

Alternator brushes worn?
Do the headlights get brighter when revving the engine from tickover? If so, probably still charging the battery.

kentishvanman wrote: Limited tools etc

You need a meter to check the voltage at the battery when the engine is running. You will be able to get a cheap one in a local shop or even at a Halfrauds https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools ... multimeter for £8

It's either a fault on the wire from the alternator to the dash, or on the charging circuit itself. If it's the former then you should get home, if it's the latter then you run the risk of running out of battery, in which case a voltage regulator and the tools to fit it (screwdriver or spanner) should be bought.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/jp-group ... -414440050 might be the right one

Good luck

Problem solved.
Blip of the throttle. Screech from fan belt. No more ignition light on when engine running. Completed the 100 miles to home with no problems.
Very occasionally in the past the belt will slip, screech on start up then no problems.
The belt is probably tighter than it should be as have tried to eliminate screech in the past. The pulleys have been cleaned and belts changed when required.
Never had this symptom before so assumed, wrongly, that as belt was tight and silent that all was ok. Obviously it was slipping enough to light up the ignition lamp.
We live and learn.

Possibly incorrect width belt and it is running on the bottom of the belt instead of the sides? ie maybe running a 9.5mm belt instead of a 10mm. Measure your belt width and compare it with the vee width on the alternator pulley.
What fan is that belt driving?

Oldiebut goodie wrote:Possibly incorrect width belt and it is running on the bottom of the belt instead of the sides? ie maybe running a 9.5mm belt instead of a 10mm. Measure your belt width and compare it with the vee width on the alternator pulley.
What fan is that belt driving?

Will certainly check belt/ pulley eve width.
Sorry to be thick but do not understand the fan/ belt driving question. Is there not only alternator/water pump/ bottom pulley?

It is a drive belt for pump and alternator not a fan belt, fan belts drive fans! ( Or are worn by groupies to keep their kegs up )

kentishvanman wrote: Sorry to be thick but do not understand the fan/ belt driving question. Is there not only alternator/water pump/ bottom pulley?

He's being pedantic/clever because you called it a "fan" belt, lucky you did'nt get exclamation marks as well

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