Club 80-90 Forums

sold me 1.9 petrol, now got a 1.6 diesel, its slooooooow but still cool, i know absolutely nothing about diesels so id like to ask a few questions if i may.

1. Split charge system setup, same as a petrol? do i just need to run a longer cable to the battery to wherever i put it ? also how does the alternator fair up, does the relay wire get attached to the no charge still (wherever that is lol) Batteries in the engine bay.
2. Is it possible to fit an after market rev counter, same installation as a petrol?
3. What is this pull out nob thing under the blower controls ?


many more questions coming i guess too as i renovate this van. . . .

thanks !

hixsy wrote:
1. Split charge system setup, same as a petrol? do i just need to run a longer cable to the battery to wherever i put it ? also how does the alternator fair up, does the relay wire get attached to the no charge still (wherever that is lol) Batteries in the engine bay.
2. Is it possible to fit an after market rev counter, same installation as a petrol?
3. What is this pull out nob thing under the blower controls ?

Split charge system is same as petrol. Mine has the relay in the engine compartment near the starter battery resulting in a long wire to the leisure battery under the drivers seat. Use a double pole relay. One set of contacts for the battery, and one for the fridge. That way the fridge won't kill the leisure battery.

Rev counters are different for diesels. They run off a pulse from the "W" terminal on the alternator, because there is no ignition pulse. That is the green wire behind the dash that serves the buzzer of doom. Many rev counters available on fleabay which run off the W terminal. They need calibrating to the exact engine speed. See other threads for how to do that.

The pull out knob thing is a cold start device. It advances the diesel injection by a few degrees to make cold starting easier in conjunction with the glow plugs. It's NOT a choke, and it does no damage if you leave it out when you're driving. But the engine idles quieter with it pushed in.

Great stuff thanks for that, rev counter I can live without, useful split charge info and Also would like a fridge in this van. Cheers