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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Electrical problems
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Wed, 10 July 2002 12:28
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My volts gauge shows ~16v when the engine's running, but this drops a bit when the sidelights are on, a bit more when the headlights go on (say ~14v) and drops right down to 12 when the driving lights are on.
Is this normal? I didn't think lights were supposed to load things so badly.
Also, I have wired up a digital oil pressure gauge, and when the lights go on the reading succesively drops more and more in the same way. Whether the engine is on or off. Makes no difference when the gauge is earthed straight off the sender so it's not a bad earth problem. Any thoughts??
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I supported Toymods
Banned User
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Wed, 10 July 2002 12:53
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Maybee it's not 16v, it might eb 14. Whatever is normal for a battery being charged.
I don't think it's the alt, 'cos the problem happens whether the engine is going or not. I mentioned the guage 'cos I think it's part of the same problme (whatever that may be). I've got a voltage drop somewhere.
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I supported Toymods
Banned User
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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I Supported Toymods
Location:
melbourne.vic.au
Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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 Re: Electrical problems
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Wed, 10 July 2002 13:08
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My voltmeter never shows 12V unless something is wrong... It shows 14V with the headlights up.
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Wed, 10 July 2002 13:13
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Thanks. I have a new 550cca battery, and no electrics really (my ra65 has no options). Added alarm, c/locking, driving lights, modest stereo currently running of headunit power (amp going in sometime).
The oil gauge only drops with the successive use of the lights, which is very bizarre. It's a quality unit, I ran fresh thick gauge wiring directly to the sender it and it ain't an earth difference problem.I dunno. I had the same problem with my ambient air temp gauge (measures underbonnet heat) until it carked (another story!)
I'll try running it straight off the battery and seeing what happens.
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Wed, 10 July 2002 13:14
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| Nark wrote on Wed, 10 July 2002 11:08 PM |
My voltmeter never shows 12V unless something is wrong... It shows 14V with the headlights up.
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I thought that was what was supposed to happen. Somethings wrong.
BTW did you get the links to the ra65 review scans you asked for on another post? I posted em for you.
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I supported Toymods
Banned User
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Wed, 10 July 2002 13:17
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Max, Is that with the engine running?
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Wed, 10 July 2002 14:05
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Stefan, yeah, I got the review. Thanks dude. It's always interesting to read what people thought of cars when they were new.
Cool1, yeah, that's with the engine running.. Just ran out and checked for you, with the engine off the gauge shows a bees dick above 12V with the lights off and shows a mosquitos dick below 12V with the lights on.
I've got 100/90W headlights too...
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Wed, 10 July 2002 14:09
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Looks like I'm going to an autoelectrican then.
Nark - those headlights the h4 Hellas? I don't know of any other upgrades, but I didn't think they were that high a wattage tho. 100/90 sounds HUGE! They legal? Work well? How much were they/what brand etc?
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Wed, 10 July 2002 14:10
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Nark, whaddaya reckon I should do with my ra65? I want more poke but don't have the $$$ for a 1g swap, no way.
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Thu, 11 July 2002 00:48
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| Nark wrote on Thu, 11 July 2002 12:48 AM |
H4 12V 100/90W Xenon discharge bulbs. 
They work sweet. Ultra bright, and white light is soooOOooo much better than yellow...
The brand is Opti Blue Platinum. I bought the pair for $25 from Mekong Spares in Canley Vale, NSW.
I should take a photo of my car with the old bulbs and new bulbs to show the comparison...
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Oh, I see, new bulbs in the original light fittings. Good to hear they make a big difference though. You can actually replace the whole light fitting with a Hella one, which is supposed to be a huge improvement, though I have never priced this.
| Nark wrote on Thu, 11 July 2002 12:48 AM |
With regards to your mods, I'd just save up for a 1G... Whatever you do to the car is just money you'll be throwing away... My car matched a 1UZ-FE (factory rated at 194kW) at the dyno day on Sunday and my engine is totally stock. Only mods are HKS air filter and 2.5" mandrel bent exhaust.
You really have to decide what sort of power you're after.. It's no use paying for a little mod here and a little mod there chasing a ever-rising need for power because in the end you'll pay more for less performance...
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I don't think I can ever afford $8800 or whatever though - that's just way outta my league. Hmm
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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 Re: Electrical problems
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Thu, 11 July 2002 01:54
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Hella ones? Never heard of them, the standard lights are pretty bright as they are...
What sort of power would you be happy with? That's basically the first question you have to honestly answer before you start with any mods.
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Thu, 11 July 2002 03:45
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I was wondering how much a 3tgte conversion would cost vs a 1g, as these cars came with 3ts (ta63s).
I would be happy with 'a bit more' power. On a cold day when it's raining with no passengers and a nearly empty tank - that's how I want my car to go. If I can do it cheaply I'll work my current engine.
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Fri, 12 July 2002 13:13
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As an update to my electrical problem - my volts gauge acts just like Nark's when I have the engine reving. With revs, lights/driving lights whatever hardly budges the needle. At idle, it drops heaps. My idle is set where it's suppsoed to be, so could this indicate a loose alternator belt or stuffer alternator etc???
Oil gauge thing happens wherever the revs are though 
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Fri, 12 July 2002 14:27
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Don't know anything about the 3T. Why not an 18R-G instead? At least it's not turbo so it's good for the insurance... Should make the car get up and boogie somewhat.
The 18R and 3T are pretty old engines though so parts are pretty rare these days...
I wouldn't waste time with the 2S-C... Unless you wanted only a very mild performance tweak... Air filter, extractors, and exhaust should free up some ponies.
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Sat, 13 July 2002 06:00
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Dude - why would I bother with a 2SC? That's a downgrade from a 22RE!!
Yeah, I know the 3t is a bit old now. 18RGs are supposed to be nice but I like EFI and i'm not sure the gains (for a stock motor) would be good enough to justify the cost. Aslo an old motor.
I have filter/coldair/exhaust. Reckon I'll try extractors/porting/cam and see what happens - eventually.
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Sat, 13 July 2002 09:52
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never trust factory gauges! check the vost wouth a multi-meter
your oil pressure will drop as the engine warms up due to the oil geting thiner
Allan
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Sat, 13 July 2002 14:46
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| Allan wrote on Sat, 13 July 2002 7:52 PM |
never trust factory gauges! check the vost wouth a multi-meter
your oil pressure will drop as the engine warms up due to the oil geting thiner
Allan
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It's not a factory gauge! it's an aftermarket one! I know the oil pressure will drop as the engine warms up, but I get a lower reading when the lights are turned on. An elec oil press gauge is juts a fancy ohm meter, so something weird is going on electrically. This has happened with toher guages too, not just this one.
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Electrical problems
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Sat, 13 July 2002 15:22
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Ah.. Sorry dude, for some reason, I thought you had an SA63.... Despite your sig saying that you have an RA65...
You can try cams, but you might not like the loss of bottom end power... 22R-Es don't have much of a power band...
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Re: Electrical problems