Nick,
First off if you stay with the two 6 volts remember you have a negative
ground car. The battery behind the drivers seat goes to ground. The
battery behind the passenger goes to the starter. Obviously whether you go
with the 12 or two 6's is a personal decision. On your other problem it
sounds to me as if the alternator is shot. Have it checked out, but it
sounds like the charging circuit is not functioning. You can either rebuild
it your self, have it done or purchase another. According to the Moss
catalog, Lucas no longer makes a 5 connector alternator, therefor you have
to make a conversion to a three connector, or rebuild your current
alternator.
I strongly urge you to purchase a repair manual. Haynes publishes a good
one and it is available at Barnes and Noble if not at your favorite parts
store. I also have a Bentley manual, which is also very good. I also
suggest that you order a Moss catalog, even if you don't purchase parts from
them, the catalog has quite a few tech tips in it, and they also publish
frequent news letters.
Good luck
Ross Overcash
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-mgs@autox.team.net] On Behalf
Of Nick Coleman
Sent: Monday, June 08, 1998 5:35 PM
To: jroverca@tiac.net; 'MG Mailing LIst (E-mail)'
Subject: RE: 73 MGB
Called NAPA and they do carry the 6 volt batteries ($62.49 each). Assume if
I go that route I would hook the batteries as follows:
out <---- neg term pos term <----> neg term pos term ----> out
I also asked about the group 26 batteries which they have. Specs on these
where 640 cold crank amps with dimensions: 8 5/8 x 6 3/4 x 7 5/16. Sound
correct? $39.99 or 1/3 the cost of going w/ the 2 six volt batteries.
In the case of the single batter install, would I just reroute one of the
battery cables to the other battery compartment and hook it up? Or is there
anything else I need to watch for.
I also asked about alternators, they carry it. Part # 211-14029. Put the
person I talked to didn't know if it was a 3 or 5 lead connection.
The electrical questions all started after the B wouldn't start Sunday
morning. I had driven it the previous night and had used the head lights.
So, either the battery isn't holding a charge or the alternator isn't
putting out enough juice. Or, I suppose there could be a poor ground
connection.
What is unusual, is that I jumped it and the car would not run until the
batteries had charged for awhile. It would start and then immediately die.
When I got it running, it would die after few minutes. Once the battery had
charged up, it ran fine. I've had problem like this on new fuel injected
cars, but wouldn't have expected it on a carburated vehicle.
Nick
> All of the MGB's are 12 volt systems, you have two six volt
> batteries in series! There are anumber of options available to you. I
> have kept the origianl setup with NAPA 6 volt batteries. Others have
converted to a
> single 12 volt, I believe it is a group 26 that will fit in the battery
compartment.
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