Electrickery Gremlin

[alan7]

HELP!

K series fitted with FIA cut off switch.

 

As my 7 hasn't been used for a few weeks I decided to turn it over for a few seconds to splash a bit of oil about & change the position of the vales/pistons/etc.

 

Immobiliser on, inertia switch disconnected, FIA Switch on, ignition on, pressed the big red button, engine turns, count to 5, finger off - job done.

Ignition off BUT ignition light glowing red. MMM...

Turn FIA switch off = ignition light still on. MMM...

FIA switch back on, switch ignition on = ignition light goes off! ☹️

[scratched head mode} Go though same routine = same result [scratches head mode off]

Leave the car for an hour = ignition light still doing Christmas tree light impression. Disconnect battery = light now off.

 

Far too dark to go upside down into the footwell in the garage & I'm away for a few days now but where do i start fault tracing when I get back to it?

 

 

 

How do you get the dead flies off your teeth....... 😬 R5AAH

[Mick Day]

I think you need to look very carefully at how this has been wired.

 

One side of the ignition light is connected to the small terminal on the alternator. The other side is connected from a fused supply via the ignition switch. So with the ignition switch off the light should be off. The FIA switch disconnects the battery (plus it also stops the alternator destroying itself if the switch is switched off when the engine is running).

 

1st try & replicate the problem again.

2. If it is still playing up, check the ignition light with a multimeter on both terminals (with ignition switch/FIA switch off). What you are trying to determine is which terminal is 12v +ve. It should be the terminal connected to the ignition switch. If correct then the fault lies with either a worn ignition switch/FIA switch.

If it is the other terminal then there could be a wiring error at the alternator. However my money would be on a fault with the FIA switch 1st & the ignition switch 2nd. The red starter button is wired correctly?

3. Another check: can the headlights be switched on with the FIA switch off/removed?

[Paul Formston]

Hi Alan

I have had this happen to me and it was the Diode pack in the alternator allowing the battary voltage to feed back through the alternator, the diode in the alternater is like a one way valve that stops the valtage feeding back, get the alternator checked by an alternater and starter overhaul specialist a new diode pack cost me a tenner Regards Paul