FIA cut out switch

[manningpaul]

 

After a couple of incidents of cutting out while driving and fiddling about with various electrical items, I have decided that the cut out switch is the fault. Popped into Merlin and bought replacement, went to fit this morning to discover that it is wired differently to the instructions.

 

The main difference seems to be no resistor wired into old one (although there is a resistor attached to earth under dash and wire to switch not attached but taped up under dash). The car has run perfectly well like this for two years, so the dilemma is:------

 

Wire it up without resistor (as before) or do it as per instructions, prefer the latter but would like to know why it would have been disconnected?

 

 

 

 

[Englishmaninwales]

I'd be inclined to wire with the resistor. I think it's there as a safety feature should the switch be used in anger and the alternator is going full speed.....but I expect someone will be along soon to be abit more precise!

[Mavic82]

Yep, for the FIA cut out to work as a safety cut off when the engine is running then you must have the resistor in. If you just want a total battery cut off to shut the power off in the garage then do not both.

 

Personally I would fit it.

 

Guy

[shn7]

Paul,

 

As above. IIRC the alternator (and maybe other stuff like ECU) can suffer damage if the switch is used with engine running and no resistor in place.

 

Steve.

Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear who recommends

Puddle Pet Care

[manningpaul]

 

Thats what I have done, started fine and ran until I noticed low oil pressure light on, so stopped engine, checked oil level , went to start again and the old symptoms are back , turning over but not starting, then as it hasn't had a long run for quite some time the battery is flat, currently on charge.

 

Decided to fix front anti-roll bar end (n/side) took it off to discover the threaded end has disappeared completely , ball end fine, so has anyone got a s/hand bar they no longer have a use for. Current one was green, is that soft or hard?

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by - manningpaul on 14 Feb 2010 16:31:48

[shn7]

Paul,

 

Oil pressure light? Is this one driven off a switch along with mechanical guage or the std CC in dash one? Does it sound ok?

 

Steve.

Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear who recommends

Puddle Pet Care

[manningpaul]

 

Hi Steve

 

Its the large seperate orange light on the dash, similar to that fitted to some race cars. Don't know if having an Apollo makes any difference, but sometimes it comes on after a few seconds and goes out almost straight away, when first started, if the oil is near min on dipstick. Doesn't sound as though it is running without oil, but just stopped it to make sure everything was OK.

 

Regards Paul.

 

 

 

Edited by - manningpaul on 14 Feb 2010 18:32:17

[Roger Ford]

Green ARB - hardest.

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

Gary May at Freestyle had a big pile of second hand ARBs in his garage sale yesterday. Sure there are some left ... give him a call.

 

 

[manningpaul]

 

Thanks, would have liked to have gone to the Freestyle sale, but was working and a bit too far.

 

Will give him a call in the morning.

 

 

 

 

[dikko]

Don't know if this is relevant but when bolting cut-out switches make sure they are on a flat plane. If not, they break inside.

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

I am very local to Gary, and could pick it up to get it out of his way, if you are not desperate for it. Otherwise quite light if you need him to post it to you.

 

 

[OAP]

Hi Paul - I've got a green arb that we could come to some arrangement over (I'm in need of a Chiminea and could do a px) although surely all you need is the threaded bolt that connects the end of the bar with the ball?

I had a similar thing happen and found the threaded part had disappeared into the arb tube, disconnecting the ball and leaving it inside the cup.

 

Edited by - OAP on 15 Feb 2010 10:42:08

[manningpaul]

 

Thanks for the offers of help, presume from what you are saying David that the threaded end screws into both the roll bar and the plastic ball, if so might be able to sort it myself.

 

No time to do it today but will have a look first thing tomorrow and let you know if I need yours.

 

Happy to do a deal on a Chimenea, stock both clay and cast iron, but also have some new rather contempory ones!

 

 

 

[OAP]

Hi Paul - yes it does screw into both, so you should be able to sort it out. I can't think that the threaded part could have come out as there is just no room, unless the mountings either side of the radiator were very loose.

Let me know if you need mine and I'll bring it to the next meeting. Do you have any pictures of the Chimeneas?

[manningpaul]

 

Will bring a catalogue to the next meet, can't imagine you are in a hurry, hardly sitting out in the garden weather at the moment, especially with a stiff sea breeze!

 

 

Regards Paul.