Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: OMEGA VXR on 07 June 2007, 09:23:51
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I noticed last night and this morning that all of my lights inside and out were flashing its a type of flash where it goes from bright to dull it does it for about 20 seconds.I came to my car about 10 minutes ago and it did the same again!
It doesnt matter if the car is running or not,ive not had any trouble like this before, could it be my battery? it is 4 years old now or could it be my alternator?
everything works as it should i put everything on thats electric and all is fine.
Can anyone help?
Thanks
Lee
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I would guess at alternator.....have a look at this maintenance guide..
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1153772945
Its worth measuring the battery voltage with the engine running to get an exact diagnosis.....as it may be th regulator or simply the contact described in the abvoe guide.
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Sounds possible then doesnt it looking at the thread.
thankyou mark.
If i do need any parts for the alternator does VX stock them?
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No but, you can get the regs and brushes etc on line.....but you need to see the internals to get the part number.
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Great maintenance guide, that.
I wonder what proportion of alternator replacements have been done unnecessarily because of not seeing that/cleaning that contact?!
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Great maintenance guide, that.
I wonder what proportion of alternator replacements have been done unnecessarily because of not seeing that/cleaning that contact?!
I suspect no more than the number of ECUs and head gaskets that have been replaced unnecessarily…
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Excellent thread,now Im confident to strip it tonight and check all componants, while im doing that im going to renew the aux belt,should i go for a genuine VX?
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Yes, there cheap enough...
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Excellent thread,now Im confident to strip it tonight and check all componants, while im doing that im going to renew the aux belt,should i go for a genuine VX?
I would, based on the fact that the ones supplied by autovaux lately appear to be a fraction short, causing extra load on tensioner...
Check the tensioner pulley for bearing wear, and replace if necessary...
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Its a 2.0 and the pulley isnt avaiable without the tensioner on these....
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Its a 2.0 and the pulley isnt avaiable without the tensioner on these....
Well spotted :-[
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Took apart the alternator yesterday and the two mating contacts were fine no corrosion whatsoever the brushes looked fine too,put it all back together with the new aux belt and im still getting the flashing!
So what would you recomend now? New battery? or just go for new brushes?
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Get a volt meter on it, I suspect that the voltage regulator is faulty, there is an in-built current limit mechanism which turns off the alternator output if the safe o/p current is exceeded, it then turns back on again around 1-2 seconds later which gives the pulsation you are seeing.
Idle should be around 13V, rising to 14V at 2k ish, should be constant at constant speed and when all lights, HRW etc are on should still hold 14V ish but will need more rpm.
If the voltmeter is pulsating to over 15V then the regulator is fubar and you need to get it fixed before it cooks your battery and the various ECUs.
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Had RAC out and they have tested all the above. Everything was fine. The car was running for 30mins with everything on lights heater etc. and all seems to be ok. Multi metre readings were 13v to 14v Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Is it still pulsing?
If so, was it doing it when the RAC guy was there and did he see any voltage fluctuations....(or was he using a digital meter)
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Hi yeah its still pulsating but not that regular! Sods law it wouldnt pulsate while the RAC man was here he was on it for at least 45 mins he tested everything with a digital metre plus he used a gadget to test what current was passing through each and every wire, he couldnt find any fault with it.
Hes told me to take the alternator to C & G in Thurmaston to get it checked out.
What else can i do!!!!!!
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Still sounds like the alternator, you could go for a rebuilt or exchange unit or get one from a breakers, check the brushes, contacts, bearings etc and swap over.
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Sadly digital meters are rubbish for detecting pulsing signals. That's when I get one of my trusty old AVOs out!
Kevin
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...... That's when I get one of my trusty old AVOs out!
Kevin
I came across one of them where I worked last year. The time before that was the physics lab at school (more than 25 yrs ago!! ;D ) ;D ;D
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...... That's when I get one of my trusty old AVOs out!
Kevin
I came across one of them where I worked last year. The time before that was the physics lab at school (more than 25 yrs ago!! ;D ) ;D ;D
Its an analogue world so you need an analogue meter. ;)
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I leant my avo8 to my brother, and in his words 'possesion is 9/10 of the law....'
>:(
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After finishing off quite a nice digital meter by touching it on the wrong pin of an oscilloscope tube base (on 1kv range, and the pin can't have had more than about 2kv on it), I've re-kindled my interest in avos.
Cheap as chips on e-bay. Buy a couple and if there are problems it's easy enough to make yourself a working one!
Model 8 isn't that bad for sensitivity either, unlike the model 7 I was brought up on.
Kevin