Please help. Last night after leaving South Bank there was heaps of traffic and I was sitting idle for a while (20min stop start). Then the speedo started to go wild but I wasn't moving. I had the ac and headlights on and when I turned the lights off the speedo went back to normal (currecnt draw) (but I couldn't drive round with no lights so turned them back on). Then I noticed when I presed the brake the needle went spastic again (current draw). Then the sterio clock backlight started to go out (more current draw). If I reved the car past 1200 it was ok. I turned the ac off and carried on home. Stop at some lights and the car stalled and would't start. Nothing. no click no turning over nothing. Luckily I was on a hill so managed to roll start it and make it home. The car is in the garage and I havn't tried to strat it but I don't think it will. My guess is I was running of the alternator and the batter if fuked. But what could drain this much power in such a short space of time (the whole battery in 20min). O and the battery is only about 3 months old. What do I do? (so many things wrong with the zed I am really losing my patience with it. may I should scare it with the S work)
Sounds like a dead alt. 20 mins with lights on motor running and Ac sounds about right to drain a battery. Trev
how do I confirm altenator? Where can I get a new one? How much are they? (20q's) Can't get to work on tuesday if I can't fix between now and then.
Not a good idea Max Borrow or buy a charger... 4amp one from KMart/Supercrap etc are very cheap. Grab a multimeter too. Fully charge the battery asap for it to have any chance of recovery. (It may never recover.) Once you can re-start (using charged battery) measure voltage/charge-rate and determine if safe to attempt long drive to Gav's or you get a local shop to do it.
agree Invest in a cheap battery charger and a Multimeter. If your alternator is on its way out, then once youve jump started, you wont have a charging system. Not a Z specialist, but assume that the electronics dont like operating at reduced voltage. A cheap Multimeter, even a $50 Dick Smith special is worth its weight in gold, and there is nothing more frustrating than stalling at a set of lights with a flat battery and roll starting IS NOT an option.
im agreeing with them, should always have a charger and multi meter. now if its not the alternator its either the batery or very simply could be the terminals and getting ressitance between connections, before you do any thing id say take the batery terminals of and clean them. then check the alternator and battery and maybe some earthings.but my zed had simply a bad earth with resulted in a trip in my second car.simple fix if its just the terminals, get a can of crc or wd40 (or your choice lubracant cleaner) and take them of and put them back on clean, and its free.
Borrowed multi and charger from brother Tested the batt and got 11.3V but thats not enough to start the car, the starter just clicks. I'll charge it today and then start and check the charge with the multi. Should be about 13V yeah? Then.....I'll drive it to gavin on tuesday. Any Idea how much a new alt is worth?
11.3v @ no load? With re-charged battery, test @ no load then whilst cranking and again when running. Results should be approx ~12.5; ~11.5; ~13.5 respectively. Report findings. :zlove:
Max I have one put aside at Amec in the big pile of parts that will be for sale shortly. Make an offer via PM to either myself or Fleet Regards Trev
After a day of charging 12.3V didn't check while cranking ? whilst running 13.1V Also battery is only about 3 moths old and sealed so doesn't need topping up, terminals are clean as can be with new gold terminals and connection is good.
What type of battery is it? Some of the late model batteries require a charge rate of at least 14.5VDC & the Z32 won't achieve this figure. If the battery isn't fully charged upon installation you can experience battery problems, regardless of the charging system operating correctly.
If the alternator was faulty & the battery was flat, where did the power come from to operate the ignition system?
Sounds promising Max. Leave charger on overnight and get alternator checked asap. Possible regulator fault may be ok by day under low load.
battery was ok when I arrived in South Bank during the day, 99% of my driving is in the day. Then when I left at night and sat in traffic there wasn't enough charge to overcome the load from AC, lights and ignition.
could still be alternator, now check with lots of load. and run it for some time than check charge rate... the 'slip rings in the alt could be gone and dont show up untill it gets a bit of temperature in it. or the armature windings could go open when it heats up or as said the regulator could be intermittant all common faults
