Probable Alternator Problem
- Thread starter ajb101
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ajb101
Junior Member
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OK.... so the plot thickens, much to my disappointment.
Basically, before I got home to check the voltage while the engine is running, I start getting CEL. The engine starts feeling like it's playing a game of tug of war between go and stop.
It started limping, then it went again. Stopped, waited, primed ignition, waited for lights to go off, restarted, ran ok, then started playing up again.
In essence, I've had a fraught journey home with all this shenanigans!!
When I got home, I finally checked the voltage while the engine was running to find the Alternator seems to be doing it's job fine.
So, from my light research on this so far, it seems that either of the following could be going on (if not multiple
- The Throttle Body is worn
- Something to do with the pedal box is worn (not sure if I understood this correctly though.)
- I have a loose Earth somewhere!
Which brings me on to my next question... where are the Earthing points on the 3200?
Thanks, respectfully, for everyone's help. Just wish dealers wouldn't have the bare faced cheek to sell cars blatantly with issues going on!!
Kind Regards,
A
Basically, before I got home to check the voltage while the engine is running, I start getting CEL. The engine starts feeling like it's playing a game of tug of war between go and stop.
It started limping, then it went again. Stopped, waited, primed ignition, waited for lights to go off, restarted, ran ok, then started playing up again.
In essence, I've had a fraught journey home with all this shenanigans!!
When I got home, I finally checked the voltage while the engine was running to find the Alternator seems to be doing it's job fine.
So, from my light research on this so far, it seems that either of the following could be going on (if not multiple
- The Throttle Body is worn
- Something to do with the pedal box is worn (not sure if I understood this correctly though.)
- I have a loose Earth somewhere!
Which brings me on to my next question... where are the Earthing points on the 3200?
Thanks, respectfully, for everyone's help. Just wish dealers wouldn't have the bare faced cheek to sell cars blatantly with issues going on!!
Kind Regards,
A
BennyD
Sea Urchin Pate
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The strange thing to me is the fact it will still start even though everything else is failing. In my experience, a really heavy drain, like starting a big(ish) V8 is the first thing to go. If the alternator is working ok, to my mind it could be a short or a dead cell internally shorting out the battery.
ajb101
Junior Member
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- 152
I read somewhere else that due to the engine being a low compression engine due to being a turbo engine lightens the load of the starter. I take your point, I'd like to ensure that the earthing is correct before piling out the cash on the battery, although having a spare is not bad thing I guess.
Rex B
Member
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- 657
Hi
If battery with engine off is 12.6 volts and with engine running is between 13.8 and 14.4 and car starts then nothing much is wrong . Just check terminals are tight .
On my 3200 the voltmeter on the dash has never read accuratly and often reads bwteen 11.5 and 13 volts and I have never had any problems, so I would not use this to judge wheher the battery or alternator are functioning correctly.
Lights are not very good but can be improved by fitting 90 or 100% plus Halogen Bulbs, mine also do not become much brighter when the engine is reved up.
If CEL lights persist then other than check for loose connections you really do need to get it put on an SD2 tester at a specialist. They will be able to read the fault codes in the ecu and advise you what is wrong. Common problems are Throttle body and Lambda Sensors and but it could be any of the other electronic components and changing them without knowing what the problem will be very expensive and time consuming with no guarentee of sucess.
Best of luck
Hope all is well tomorrow.
Rex B
Manual 3200
If battery with engine off is 12.6 volts and with engine running is between 13.8 and 14.4 and car starts then nothing much is wrong . Just check terminals are tight .
On my 3200 the voltmeter on the dash has never read accuratly and often reads bwteen 11.5 and 13 volts and I have never had any problems, so I would not use this to judge wheher the battery or alternator are functioning correctly.
Lights are not very good but can be improved by fitting 90 or 100% plus Halogen Bulbs, mine also do not become much brighter when the engine is reved up.
If CEL lights persist then other than check for loose connections you really do need to get it put on an SD2 tester at a specialist. They will be able to read the fault codes in the ecu and advise you what is wrong. Common problems are Throttle body and Lambda Sensors and but it could be any of the other electronic components and changing them without knowing what the problem will be very expensive and time consuming with no guarentee of sucess.
Best of luck
Hope all is well tomorrow.
Rex B
Manual 3200
Rex B
Member
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- 657
I appreciate your problem with the distance to a good indie, I am lucky have Bill Mcgraths 10 minutes away. The only consolation I can offer is that when they are sorted a good 3200 will bring a big smile to your face. one giving problems is so disheartning. Mine was OK for a 9 months then a problem for 6 until I took it to Mcgraths and its been good ever since. I am afraid with age now they will always need something and you do need to keep on top of things. But this forum will help identify problems and where you can save money.
Rex B
Manual 3200
Rex B
Manual 3200
conaero
Forum Owner
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Well the plot thickens.
First to check are the battery terminals and the battery negative anchor point. For the sake of it I would bung a battery into her too for the sake of £75.
If problems persist you need to get the error codes read. As pointed out the throttle system is a known issue. Past that it sounds like a wiring issue but that's just a guess. Without seeing the car it's near impossible to diagnose.
What year is your car? If its 2001 or later you can buy a £20 code reader off EBay and get the codes yourself.
First to check are the battery terminals and the battery negative anchor point. For the sake of it I would bung a battery into her too for the sake of £75.
If problems persist you need to get the error codes read. As pointed out the throttle system is a known issue. Past that it sounds like a wiring issue but that's just a guess. Without seeing the car it's near impossible to diagnose.
What year is your car? If its 2001 or later you can buy a £20 code reader off EBay and get the codes yourself.
ajb101
Junior Member
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- 152
I want to say a big thank you to everyone for your help and advice.
For expedience I decided to get the car picked up by the RAC and delivered to Carrs Ferrari in Exeter who have been been nothing but friendly and courteous and have fed back that one of the cars new lambda sensors was not connected up particularly well. This was causing the ECU to dump more fuel into the system as it was thinking the engine was running lean, this was giving me my misfire issue and ultimately the CEL and limp nightmare that is oh-so prevalent with these rare beasts. They also confirmed that they'd seen that car before and that it in fact has a new alternator already, confirming my handheld voltmeter readings.
They say it is running fine now, and will confirm again tomorrow that this is the case (after they've done a few bits and pieces I've asked them to look at while it is with them.)
I also want to thank Bill for spending half an hour on the phone with me giving me pointers to check for, this was very much appreciated.
So for now... the grin continues to beam
For expedience I decided to get the car picked up by the RAC and delivered to Carrs Ferrari in Exeter who have been been nothing but friendly and courteous and have fed back that one of the cars new lambda sensors was not connected up particularly well. This was causing the ECU to dump more fuel into the system as it was thinking the engine was running lean, this was giving me my misfire issue and ultimately the CEL and limp nightmare that is oh-so prevalent with these rare beasts. They also confirmed that they'd seen that car before and that it in fact has a new alternator already, confirming my handheld voltmeter readings.
They say it is running fine now, and will confirm again tomorrow that this is the case (after they've done a few bits and pieces I've asked them to look at while it is with them.)
I also want to thank Bill for spending half an hour on the phone with me giving me pointers to check for, this was very much appreciated.
So for now... the grin continues to beam
ajb101
Junior Member
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Ah well, these things happen
I'm used to this kind of thing with Skyline GT-R ownership 
ajb101
Junior Member
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OK, so the saga continued.
I picked up the car from Carrs on the Friday, I did have a little wobble on the way to picking up my little one, was fine all the way back, the next day however, it was a bit surgy which got worse and worse. I got full on limp mode in the middle of Exeter then it came back to life again.
By the fact that upon restarting the engine it worked, I figured I could go a bit further so tried to get to my next destination... stuck just outside Ashburton... for four and half hours With a 3 year old! Apparently the worst day to have a breakdown. Even the friendly policewoman who stopped after noticing I'd been there for some time was aghast given the youngster was in the car.
Anyhow, finally got a flat-bed out to me, the people at Carrs in Exeter kindly stayed on late to accept my car and lend me theirs.
Thanks again to Bill for speaking to me at length on the phone while I was waiting for recovery. Basically, the problem was the throttle body. Carrs got the exchange unit from Bill and fitted, and the car has been running fine ever since.
I still have some niggles to sort out, it is still very 'hunty' at idle (900 -1000 rpm,) I need a new set of tyres and the brakes are very mildly warped (should probably get away with a skim on those.)
I picked up the car from Carrs on the Friday, I did have a little wobble on the way to picking up my little one, was fine all the way back, the next day however, it was a bit surgy which got worse and worse. I got full on limp mode in the middle of Exeter then it came back to life again.
By the fact that upon restarting the engine it worked, I figured I could go a bit further so tried to get to my next destination... stuck just outside Ashburton... for four and half hours
With a 3 year old! Apparently the worst day to have a breakdown. Even the friendly policewoman who stopped after noticing I'd been there for some time was aghast given the youngster was in the car.Anyhow, finally got a flat-bed out to me, the people at Carrs in Exeter kindly stayed on late to accept my car and lend me theirs.
Thanks again to Bill for speaking to me at length on the phone while I was waiting for recovery. Basically, the problem was the throttle body. Carrs got the exchange unit from Bill and fitted, and the car has been running fine ever since
.I still have some niggles to sort out, it is still very 'hunty' at idle (900 -1000 rpm,) I need a new set of tyres and the brakes are very mildly warped (should probably get away with a skim on those.)
Last edited:
ajb101
Junior Member
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Any idea how long that would take as I put a fair few miles on it over the weekend and it is still doing it?
Cheers,
A