The battery was flat when I got it out of the garage last weekend. i'm not surprised after the cold weather at easter, and little use over the winter.

Managed to jump start it, and go for a trip.
After about 15 miles I stopped at a mates for a coffee.
It wouldnt start, and the battery was a bit depleted.
So another jumpstart, and off home.

I put it on charge (New Optimate) and left overnight.
Went in yesterday, and the battery was dead flat again!. (Its not the charger)

My radiator Fans are wired so they can run without the ignition, so it can continue to cool after I have switched the engine off.
Connecting a jump battery, the Fans ran continuously even though the engine was cold.
Also got some smoke coming from the Hazard Switch area.
I have disconected the Fan thermostat (solid state Revotec one), and all now appears to be well.
I have ordered another fan switch, as this one is an embedded / sealed unit.

Only thing I can think of is that the unit has gone faulty, and caused a Back feed through the relay feed causing the smoke in the column switch area, via the hazard switch which is also not controlled by the ignition switch.

As soon as I took the fan switch out all seems to be OK.
Have new one on order, and hope to get to stoneleigh.

Have also have (since building) problems starting the RV8 when hot.
I have a phenolic spacer under the carb which has helped.
However, whilst poking about looking at the fan problem, I checked the voltage at the coil (dont know why!). On cranking it drops to 4Volts

This would explain why it doesnt start well.
So I will also be modifying it to use a relay to feed 12v straight to the coil when cranking the engine (relay controlled from the starter switch, which only operates when cranking the engine). That should fix the voltage issue when cranking, and give better sparks when cranking.
All cars that have ballasted ignition should have a circuit that does this. But I dont have the expensive starter motor with the extra terminals. So a relay and a few wires will have to suffice.

Phew.... Thats the sum of last nights efforts in the garage,

Hope to make Stoneleigh, but have a lot to sort in between (not all car related)

Come on Geoff/Jeff, if any one can do it you can.

I only have this Saturday free, and it depends in Rally Design can get the new thermostat switch to me before then.

If I had time I would dig out the potting compound and fix the broken one, but its time consuming.
Thats assuming there are no other problems.
Also will rewire it so it all goes thru the ignition. I will forego the luxury of Post Ingition Cooling.

Will try to make if by Sunday at Stoneleigh. its the earliest I could make it. I have a lot of commitments in the next couple of weeks... Like the wifes birthday. She didnt want a couple of nights out at Stoneleigh Park as a pressy
I have to do something else.. which will impinge on getting to Stoneliegh early with the other "PARTY ON" dudes.

Oh If it's "Rissing with Pain" I'm not coming... I got wet enough last year.
Geoff

EDIT:
Damn... That wet stuff was at Newark!

[Edited on 17/4/2008 by wilkingj]

Just talk her round mate...
Welderman's convinced his missus to go to Stoneleigh and it's their WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!
Steve

quote:

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Originally posted by wilkingj
I have a lot of commitments in the next couple of weeks... Like the wifes birthday. She didnt want a couple of nights out at Stoneleigh Park as a pressy

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Geoff

I was planning ( still not done ) to run a wire from the starter moter solanoid +ve terminal ( only +12v when cranking ) to the coil so that when cranking the coil gets full 12v.

Dont know if it will work but could be a simple fix.

Paul.

ps Fitten an imobilser last night and now nothing works!!!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by wilkingj
So I will also be modifying it to use a relay to feed 12v straight to the coil when cranking the engine (relay controlled from the starter switch, which only operates when cranking the engine). That should fix the voltage issue when cranking, and give better sparks when cranking.
All cars that have ballasted ignition should have a circuit that does this. But I dont have the expensive starter motor with the extra terminals. So a relay and a few wires will have to suffice.

---

Paul , check your starter as some Rover solonoids had an extra terminal for the ballast system . It would be a small lucar type connection, if you dont have one use a relay when putting in extra wire as wiring direct is likely to cause problems.

Yep have the extra connection.
thanks

paul

Yup... you cant just run a wire from the cranking line to the coil. As when you release the key there will be a voltage applied to the cranking line from the coil.
This link needs to be switched, like with a relay, or the additional contact on the later type starter motors.
You cant just connect a wire, or it will try to crank the starter motor when you release the key. Namely you would have a sort of loop.

Unfortunately it looks like I will be unable to make it also

Work commitments.

well geof were here and waiting for you.