sx2500831 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 I just rebuilt my 73 GT6 motor. I also added an electric ignition. When I start the car the little red ignition light in the speedo flashes. Why is this happening? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nang Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Sounds like an alternator or regulator fault to me or a loose fanbelt.Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 My money is on the alternator.RR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sx2500831 Posted June 14, 2012 Author Share Posted June 14, 2012 The car before the rebuild didn't have the flashing light. It only flashes when it's running. If the key is in the on position it doesn't blink. The car runs very good and the fan belt is new and really tight. I will check the alternator with a voltage tester and see if that's the problem. Thanks for the information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich_s Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 make sure the belt is not too tight...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 The alternator sounds as though it is at fault as the smaller wire coming off the alternator goes straight to the warning light and no where else except earthIt would not light if it was not earthed,so sounds as though earthing OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodders1 Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 michael_charlton wrote:The alternator sounds as though it is at fault as the smaller wire coming off the alternator goes straight to the warning light and no where else except earthIt would not light if it was not earthed,so sounds as though earthing OKThis is definitely a knackered alternator, or a broken wire betweent he ignition light and the alternator itself.One minor clarification to Mr Rosso's comment - the ignition light doesn't have an earth connection as such. One side of it is connected to the ignition switch, then other to the alternator. When the alternator isn't turning, it is "earthed" through the field coil in the alternator itself. Once the alternator is turning, the back-emf generated in the alternator causes the voltage on the "earth" side of the ignition light to rise to the same voltage as the feed side, so the light goes out.Never run a Lucas alternator for any length of time without the ignition light connected - it relies on the current through the ignion light to get the charging process started. If it is not connected, the vltage regulator circuit can burn-out. I killed an alternator this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 bodders1 wrote:This is definitely a knackered alternator, or a broken wire betweent he ignition light and the alternator itself.One minor clarification to Mr Rosso's comment - the ignition light doesn't have an earth connection as such. One side of it is connected to the ignition switch, then other to the alternator. When the alternator isn't turning, it is "earthed" through the field coil in the alternator itself. Once the alternator is turning, the back-emf generated in the alternator causes the voltage on the "earth" side of the ignition light to rise to the same voltage as the feed side, so the light goes out.Never run a Lucas alternator for any length of time without the ignition light connected - it relies on the current through the ignion light to get the charging process started. If it is not connected, the vltage regulator circuit can burn-out. I killed an alternator this way.Correct on all pointsSorry dont know what I was thinking about..............especially when I wrote an article about the flipping thingIts this Foreign Legion bug thing Ive got ,I think :B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiggrr1 Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 michael_charlton wrote:Its this Foreign Legion bug thing Ive got ,I think :BSorry off topic :BYou do seem to get poorly when CT go to Scotlandshire,are you sure that is not like Barry's food poisoning ;) :P ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 tiggrr1 wrote:Sorry off topic :BYou do seem to get poorly when CT go to Scotlandshire,are you sure that is not like Barry's food poisoning ;) :P ;D Haggis Fever......gets you right in the Trossacks ;DOne of the symptons is seeing bright blue fruity objects.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sx2500831 Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thanks for your replies. I will check to see if the belt is too tight. The alternator is producing a nice solid 14V so I don't think it's bad. I can say that it is new and and there is no more room to tighten it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotoflex Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 What kind of electronic ignition is it?I installed the Pertronix thing that just replaces the points, & had no side effects with the ignition light.Edit:If he rebuilt the engine, is it possible that some kind of mix of the original 6V coil wiring system with a 12V coil without wiring modification could cause this? Or a 6V coil installed when the wiring had been modified previously for a 12V coil? Did you change the coil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drofgum Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Bill,Although it is called an ignition light it actually functions as a charge warning light. The only way it relates to the ignition is that it lights up when the power to the coil is turned on and the charging system isn't charging the battery. In this way it warns you that your ignition coil has power to it switched on and it may overheat if left this way. Cheers, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotoflex Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Thank you Paul, you have just solved one of the greatest mysteries of the car for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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