ELECTRICAL FAULTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 372, 5 June 1928, Page 7

ELECTRICAL FAULTS

CONSULT THIS TROUBLE CHART The following hints and tips on trouble location are given with a view to assisting the user to locate any troubles which may occur on the road, j If possible, rectify the trouble at once; j do not leave matters to get worse, as ! sometimes quite a trivial fault may ultimately cause serious damage to the system. Symptom.—Ammeter does not indicate charging current. Symptom.—Ammeter needle oscil- | lates violently. Probable Cause.—lndicates a slack ' or slipping driving belt. To remedy, tighten adjustment or shorten belt. Symptom.—All lights fail. Probable Cause. —Broken or bad connection between switchboard and battery. Symptom.—Lights drop to dull red. Probable Cause.—Field fuse blown, indicating either a faulty or broken connection between dynamo and battery. Carefully trace all connections, and locate fault before replacing fuse. Probable Cause. —Short circuit in the wiring system. To locate, disconnect each lamp cable on switchboard in turn. When remaining light glow bright, the faulty cable has been located. It is advisable to switch the [ lights off while disconnecting the cables, and switch on only when ready to test. Carefully examine the faulty - cable, also the lamp adaptor, and do not replace until the fault has been rectified. Symptom.—Ammeter does not regis- j ter, though field fuse has blown. Probable Cause.—Belt slipping or broken, dynamo out of order. Examine brushes, and see that they are quite free in their holders. Symptom.—Ammeter registers current when car is stationary, and engine not running. Probable Cause.—This is of rare occurrence, and may be due to two causes: (1) Cut-out out of order; (2) a short circuit between the dynamo negative and battery negative terminals. To locate, disconnect cable from terminal on cut-out, and note whether \ the ammeter needle returns to zero; if. when replaced, current is again registered, examine for possible short between terminal ID and 4S, also see ; that the armature of cut-out is not sticking. If the trouble cannot be remedied, have cut-out tested, or returned for inspection and repair if : necessary. Symptom.—Bulbs glow very bright, or burn out. Probable Cause.—Broken or faulty , connection between dynamo and battery. The field fuse will also probably blow. Switch dynamo off, examino battery connections and do not charge again until fault has been remedied. Symptom.—Bulbs dull or not up to normal when dynamo is not running. Probable Cause.—Battery discharged; use lamps sparingly and do not use starter motor until battery has been recharged. Symptom.—One or more lamps will not light. Probable Cause.—Bulbs defective or worn out. Try new bulbs, or examine for faulty contacts in bulb-holder and adaptor, also examine lamp connections on switchboard. Symptom.—Lights flicker. Probable Cause.—Loose connection in lamp wires or adaptors, also loose connection in battery. Symptom.—Starter motor turns engine very slowly. Probable Cause.—Battery almost discharged, or engine very stiff. Do not use starter motor until battery is properly charged. Also, examine starter cable connections on battery and starter switch. Symptom.—Starter motor does not rotate. Probable Cause.—Battery entirely discharged either through excessive uses of starter motor, or short circuit. Test battery, also examine starter motor connections. Symptom.—Starter motor rotates, but does not rotate engine. Probable Cause.—Screwed sleeve of Bendix drive dirty or gummed with oil, etc. To remedy, clean with rag dipped in petrol, and see that pinion is quite free. Symptom.—Battery does not hold charge or is always weak. Probable Cause.—Defective cell or solution very low. Battery may be worn out, or specific gravity of the electrolyte low. Test with hvdrometer. The car may not be run enough for the dynamo to charge the battery and replace the current taken from it To remedy, run car, and do no use starter motor until batterv is p-oneri-charged again. y