Flicking ammeter.

WarrenL

WarrenL

Active Member
In what might be the latest of Brown Rover's ongoing attempts to prevent me returning it to regular use, I yesterday noticed the ammeter indulging in some intermittent flicking. A bell is ringing in the back of my mind - is this the regulator* on the way out? If so, can I be pointed in the best direction from which to obtain a replacement?

*Brown Rover has an 11AC alternator and a separate regulator mounted next to the fuse box behind the passenger glovebox.
 
Hi Warren,

It will likely be either the carbon brushes or the voltage regulator. The 11AC is not as user friendly as the 18ACR which is quite easy to diagnose. I expect that you'll be able to source replacement brushes and possibly a regulator online.

Ron.
 
I've only just rebuilt the alternator with new bearings, brushes, etc, Ron. Going by the alternatives you've given me I expect it's the second possibility - the regulator. The original regulator died in about 1997 or 1998 and was replaced by a second hand one (that was all I could track down in those days), so it's probably not unreasonable to expect that it might be getting a bit past it by now.
 
The regulators are reasonably common on UK Ebay, Warren. If you get stuck it may be worth paying the postage....

Chris
 
Yes Willy, it's Engrish for...

rp61973 said:
Could be an alternator diode on its way out.
Click to expand...

That would piss me off, after only recently having had the flicking thing in pieces. I might see if my non-Forum P6 owning mate will loan me his regulator for a half hour before I rush out and buy a new one. Speaking of which, bloke here confirms the slightly ropey looking regulator in the photo is in fact NOS that he sells. Price is good - if I need one should I trust him, or is it a case of caveat emptor?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-LUCAS-4TR ... TQ:GB:1123
 
Hi !

I own a 3500 P6 (1972) with the "inboard" mounted regulator. When the Ammeter (and lights) started to flicker I bought a new regulator and overhauled my alternator but it still flickered. Then the LUCAS service man told me that the voltage drop from the feeding through the ignition lock is to high. So the simple solution is to mount a relay to feed the main + to the regulator (controlled from the ignition lock) and then it is a stable ammeter (and lights) again.

Best Regards: Göran Olsson (Rover Club of Sweden)
 
RCoS105 said:
Then the LUCAS service man told me that the voltage drop from the feeding through the ignition lock is to high. So the simple solution is to mount a relay to feed the main + to the regulator (controlled from the ignition lock) and then it is a stable ammeter (and lights) again.
Click to expand...

Which is how the later 11AC cars came, with a 6RA in the system.
 
It was suddenly on my car as well. The Electronics in the regulator is probably sensitive to voltage drop just under a certain value. Be aware of that the required current level is high in this applikation.

Göran
 
Good point. Will investigate further as soon as I can find my car again. It's currently blocked in by all the household goods we've had to move into the garage whilst earthquake repairs are carried out on the house. To add insult to injury we've been thrown out for a couple of weeks and are living in a motel unit...
 
WarrenL said:
whilst earthquake repairs are carried out on the house. To add insult to injury we've been thrown out for a couple of weeks and are living in a motel unit...
Click to expand...

my condolences as I sit here looking from my 30th floor apartment overlooking many central parks in Shenyang city on Chinese new years eve watching the continuous fire work displays.

Graeme
 
Not sure which of us has it worse, then. We might not have fireworks but at least there's a few trees.
 
It could be, but I won't be able to check for a couple of weeks at least, under the present state of disruption.
 
Warren : if your regulator is a 4TR , it is the same as that used on MGBs and multitudinous Jaguars and is widely available from those sources . Modern day replacements, however, are not as good as the original Lucas stuff !
 
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