Re: Alpine electrics

John Souders (frodo4(at)ix.netcom.com)
Fri, 14 Jun 1996 14:06:00 -0700

You wrote: >
>
>Thanks for the replies. I've done some investigation with my bulb
>and wires:
>
> From: frodo4(at)ix.netcom.com (John Souders )
> Sender: owner-alpines(at)triumph.cs.utah.edu
>
> You wrote:
> >
> >The Alpine is currently suffering from an electrical problem and
as I > >try to avoid anything electrical due to being totally clueless I'm
> >hoping for a few pointers from the list. The story goes: bought a
new > >battery (of the same type as already fitted to the car) Sunday
morning > >and the car started fine and everything looked OK. Sunday
afternoon > >and the entire car's electrics (apart from ignition/starter) had
> packed
> >in. I checked the fuses and found that one had blown. Now, I'm
under >
> Briefly - yes there are 2 fuses, one for the things switched via
the > ign switch and one for things that are on all the time. BUT the
> headlights are not fused, they are connected to the other side of
the > fuse holder.
> SO:
> 1. What does and what does not work now.
>
>The car will start - the ignition light comes on and then goes out
>as normal. The lights work. No indicators, horn, or dash gauges.

ASSUMING that the fuses are OK!!!!!! The ign system is not fused, but as its power is taken from one of the connectors on the fuse box (switched, not fused side), we must assume that power is getting to that part of the fuse holder. Turn the ign on and try the bulb thing again to verify your technique. If power is here, it should be on the other sdie of the fuse. If not - bad fuse/connection. Really check here, sandpaper on contacts etc. Ive had bad ones that looked ok, but only worked when wiggled (fuse holders).

>
> 2. Is the fuse holder clean - they can get pretty dirty and prevent
a > good connection to the fuse.
>
>The car has done dry mileage since a rebuild a couple of years ago so
>everything is very clean. Doesn't mean there's not a spot of corrosion
>on a connector or two, I know.
>
> 3. Does your bulb and wire tester indicate any power to any part of
the > fuse holder - try both ends of both fuses to ground.
>
>No power to either end of either fuse holder.
>
> 4. What Series Alpine - dynamo or alternator.
>
>It's a Series II 1962 Alpine with dynamo. It was converted to -ve
>ground as part of the rebuild. Apart from a non-functioning clock
>everything worked fine prior to this problem.
>
Has everything worked OK at some point on -ve ground, or was the last OK time on +ve ground.

> 5. Do you have an ammeter on the car - what does it show.
>
>The ammeter shows normal readings - just +ve at idle, moreso at higher
>revs.
>
THE system is charging so check the wires at the starter soleniod. There are (I think) two brown wires coming from the 'hot' side of the solenoid. One goes to the Voltage regulator, and as charging is OK this must be OK. Also I believe, this supplies (from the regulator A1 terminal) battery power on to the ign switch. The other brown wire at the solenoid provides power to the unswitched fuse. Check that it is where it should be at both ends. Check your bulb and wire technique at the hot terminal on thre solenoid while you are there.

>Any further advice would be much appreciated.
>
>Cheers.
>Dave W.
>
Keep us posted, we'll get to the bottom of this.