Newbie with Electrical Issues?

[albersj51]

Hi Everyone,

Just got my 67 Series IIA. Ran into an issue tonight...while driving home when I would come to a stop the red light on the left side of the dash came on and she felt like she was going to stall. When I pulled the choke the yellow light on the right side came on and she revved right up. When I drive with the choke in, no red light and seems to be fine. What do the Red and Yellow light indicate? I freaked out that it was some kind of overheating warning, but it wasnt running hot.

Also, any thoughts on why she would suddenly start acting up? It literally just started happening. When I got home, I pulled out the flashlight, opened the hood and started her up...ran fine. Looking for ideas. Thanks!

Jason

[SafeAirOne]

Gonna guess here--I don't have a SIIa...

I'm gonna guess that your engine is idling too low for whatever reason, causing the charge light (red, usually) to come on. When you pull out the choke, the yellow cold start lamp illuminates, but by pulling out the choke, you get the engine to idle at a more appropriate speed, thereby extinguishing the charge lamp.

Whew!

I'd check your fuel/air mixture. It sounds as if it is running to lean. When you choke it (decrease air, increase fuel) it runs properly. Take this all with a grain of salt--I have a diesel engine, so I don't usually encounter this type of stuff...

[NC_Mule]

The red light means the 12V your alternator is putting out is getting lost in the crud on your electrical connections. The yellow light came on because you pulled your choke. My rover had been sitting for 5 years when I bought it and I had the same red light issue, solved it by cleaning the battery and alternator connections with sand paper.
pb
edit, and check your idle speed per safeairone.

[albersj51]

You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman! I will go through and clean all of the electrical stuff this weekend and see what that does.

[albersj51]

SafeAirOne,

Thanks for the info! I think its electrical since it came on suddenly and appears to be intermitent...however, I do think the carb needs to be cleaned and adjusted. The PO (a specialist shop) did a lot of mechanical work on her, mainly brakes and such as well as tuned her, but I think she needs some electrical work (may just rewire and do away with the Lucas stuff) and some adjustments to the carb....she was in the mountains of NC and now she is a couple thousand feet lower, which may make the carb run to rich/lean.

[bobzinak]

unless your rover has been converted to an alternator, you have a generator system. magnets and field coil gereate electricity for you rover, the higher the rpm the more current generated. your problem may be as simple as a low battery. the brusher on the generator can waer quickly and not be making good contact on the armature. sometimes a splash of electrical cleaner will clean them up. if you pull the generator you can remove the cover over the brushes and inspect them as well as see the condition of the armature where the brushes ride on it. you will see the springs that hold the brushes down. clean all your connections in your wiring. I once was driving at night with high beams on, heater fan going, wipers on high, suddenly everthing stars going slower, lights dimming, pull over turn off every thing rover runs fine. the generator only puts out 30 amps at a high speed, slower less out put, when you pullked the choke on, higher rpms, more output, ran better.. simple as that. my advice...convert you rover to a 75 to 100 amp one wire alternator. you life will be better..but you will not be able to push start it with an absolutly dead battery, alternators use voltage to generate the field coil to make voltage...my two cents....bobzinak

[Jim-ME]

It has been a while since I had a generator if that is indeed what you have. IIRC it wasn't uncommon to have the red light glow at idle with a generator. If it were me I'd check the fan belt tension first to make sure it is tight. Then I would try to get my hands on a tachometer to see if your idle speed is set correctly. With my diesel even with an alternator when it isn't charging like it should nine times out of ten the alternator has loosened up and the belt is slipping. Rule out the easy stuff first then dive into the rest if the easy stuff is correct. I do agree the replacing a generator with an alternator is a smart upgrade.
Jim

[kevkon]

Richen up that Air/ fuel mix!

[albersj51]

Good points! Yep, it's a generator. Reading up on replacing with an alternator, I had no idea they only put out 30 amps...yup, definitely need to get that taken care of!

[Wander]

If this hasn't been mentioned check out www.expeditionlandrover.info for a lot of great information about a lot of things but specifically the alternator conversion