While driving my '84 SIII home in severe weather the other day, I had a lot of electrical devices in use and the car just died in traffic; no power at all. Rechaged battery and drove it for a while, dead again. When everything is shut off, the battery indicator on dash glows slightly. Sounds like a short to me, but could this be a Lucas mystery nightmare?
Dennis Casey
Submitted by dougdwyer@eart… on Mon, 09/20/2004 - 23:53
No mystery, Lucas or otherwise. The continual dim glow of the charging light almost always indicates a faulty diode in the alternator, regardless of type of car.
Removing the alternator is a bit frustrating but any neighborhood auto-electric shop should be able to repair it, or rebuilt units are easily available from many sources.
Doug Dwyer
JDRC/NWA
1987 XJ6 III
1988 XJS V12 Coupe