Earthing/ altenator light

[andybeta]

Hi everybody..........electrics. for a number of years the red ignition altenator light has been glowing faintly althougth there have been no symptoms to explain it such as poor charging of battery, so I've put it down to generally poor earthing and from time to time it bugs me.

The battery is always charged and the lights are fine and it starts first time, when fuel is pumped through to the plugs. It glows a little brighter when I've the heater on and postively glows if I've the wipers, radio and lights on while driving at night. Touching the brake lights causes it to illuminate as well. I'm just curious if anyone has any suggestions as to how to solve this riddle. I've gotten so used to it to the extent that , if it's not faintly glowing, I'll probably be rather concerned.

replies gratefully received,

Andybeta

[Hamish]

Andy,
Don't worry..... they all do that sir :roll: it's perfectly normal :?
I've yet to have a beta that didn't show the symptoms you describe, the warning lights do seem particularly 'sensetive' to any form of load on the electrical system.
The answer does seem to be that (for the most part) the system simply is under-engineered with poor cabling, inadequate earthing and distinct evidence of being built to a price..... :roll:
There are a number of solutions that will alleviate the worry of warning lights coming on; the simplest of which is to put relays in where they haven't previously been fitted (or additional units where the standard ones cannot cope) into much of the 'heavy duty' (for example lights and wipers) wiring. This can present quite a challenge - it took me several weeks to finally summon the courage to hack into the wiring loom :oops: and put relays into the front lights, but it was worth it in a big way with the benefit of better lights and no risk of switch meltdown :mrgreen:
As a first step, I would suggest you do look at all the connectors and overhaul the earths first - but it will still show the same problem :cry:

[chrisc]

Both of mine do that, havent noticed any problems either. Im putting it down to a bad ground somewhere but im not about to rip apart my dash to hunt it down just yet

[andybeta]

As I rather suspected Hamish, thanks for your suggestions. It's not a major prob. and to be honest I've put up with it up for some years now with apparently no ill effects (not me the car, well perhaps a few sleepless nights which is all part of the custodianship of a fine piece of engineering such is the Lancia Volumex), so I'll leave it.

Last year in glancing over the engine whilst it was ticking over, did notice some smoke coming from around the cam cover!! So investigating further found that the a main bundle of wires which should have been secured to the wing had made had come away and met with the supercharger pulley and yikes a bit of oil and grime on the surface of the exposed wire looked ready to ignite!!!!

So Volumex owners check that your cabling is well clear of any of the pulleys around the supercharger or other engine pulleys. The results don't bear thinking about, especially with the fuel line just above!!!!!

Hope you had a good trip Hamish. Would be interested to read of your exploits.

Andybeta

[andybeta]

yeap that's just what I think.

thanks, Andybeta

[Will]

I think this is due to backfeeding through the ignition circuit, and I also seem to remember that there was a simple fix, wish I could remember what is was.
If it is backfeeding, I would assume that the cure would be fitment of a heavy-duty diode, you'd need to take a good look at the WD to figure out where though. Wish I could be more helpful.
-Will

[andybeta]

Thanks for the tip Will, though shall need a bit more information. But not to worry it's not urgent.

Still think it's a bad earth, perhaps the main earth strap that needs a very good contact / replacing or possibly the fuse box.. it's a mine field and can wait.

thanks,

Andybeta

[Wallace]

Don't know if the Beta's the same - but all the juice feeding the fuseboxes on the Monte goes through just a SINGLE connector - which isn't up to the job ! The actual connector is part of one of the multiway plug/sockets joining the looms together. Reasonably easy to replace with a single, heavier duty plug and socket but you really need a decent crimping tool to do it properly !

[Dmitry]

greetings to everybody! The reason to low light of alternator lamp ( in Lancia and many another car) is low valtage (ab.11V, not 14V) in contakt #15 (ignition) on instrument cluster. Then carient go throm alternator L wire (white/black) to #15. Simply way to ligt go away is mount diode anod-to lamp, catod -to alternator in white/black wire. But low voltage in electrical sistem ,then power sistems (wipers, stop signals , heater fan ,revers ligts ) are work, is lowering their efficency. It is beter place thick (6-8 mm*mm) wire from alternator B+ con. through battary+ term to ignition sw #30 terminal (seems to my black 2.5 wire) . Very good if be able place 60A fuse in connection to battary + terminal-it safe and alternator in over-polarity battary and safe in case of short-connection in #30 feed.
ps. Tell my what format of electrical shematic you can reed? It seems to my the best is PCAD and ACCEL .sch format.