QuestionBrian,
Thanks for your response. You are correct, alt is bad. Found an area repair who ran it thru his meter. Bad diodes. Will purchase new one. Hunting prices at the moment. While I was in there I pulled my frozen air pump. Of course, only to find out a replacement for the 1500 is non existant. Still looking. I see I have two options, open it up and see if there is anything I can do with it. Not high hopes on that one. Second is my question to you. Will the 1275 air pump funtion on my 1500 since it is still available, but not cheap. Any experience with playing with the air pump you can pass on. Thanks for all the info you can give.
jay laros
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Followup To
Question -
The alt. light on my MG came on the other day without the key in the ignition. When I started the car, it went off. Repeated several times to see if I was crazy. On the way home, The Alt. light came on. It no longer comes on with the ignition off. Let me explain. At a low idle, the light glows softly, but definitely on. The higher the idle, the brighter it glows. If you turn on any electrical, it glows bright. Battery seems to be holding its own, it has not gone dead.
Any ideas.
Answer -
Jay:
If your alt light came on without the key in the ignition, it tells me that you have a short somewhere in the system or a bum voltage regulating diode in your alternator- most likely a bad diode in my opinion. (ie. you need a rebuilt alternator!) Your alternator may still charge (in fact, in your follow-up you said you were reading 14.1 volts at idle so it looks like it was putting out voltage, it's just when you turn off the ignition the diode (which is normally a "one-way electrical pathway") is allowing battery voltage to feed back through the alternator (and lighting your light) and drawing down the battery.
It is quite normal for the light to glow dimly at engine idle though it should go out at engine speeds above idle. You say it glows brighter which again - to me - points to a blown diode pack in your altenator. Eventually, your battery will go dead unless you replace the alternator.
Moss Motors (www.mossmotors.com) has rebuilt alternators, as do all of the other parts providers. You may even be able to get one locally through Car Quest, Advance or Auto Zone, or Pep Boys. Good luck!
Brian
AnswerJay:
I'm not sure if the 1275 engine air (smog)pump will work on the 1500 or not. The main thing would be the mounting brackets, etc. If on the other hand, you find out that they will interchange and want a good used 1275 pump - contact me , as I have one I will sell you for say, $100 U.S.D. I also have some other stuff that goes with it, such as brackets, I believe.
On the other hand, it may be possible to rebuild your existing pump. It probably just needs the internal bearings replaced. I have never opened up a 1500 pump. If your "handy" and have some (or access to) the tools you'll need, you could do this yourself, OR find someplace locally that would rebuild it for you. I'd try several local machine shops that specalize in automotive work. Tell them you only need them to open it up and replace the bearings and seals. They might do it for you - but get an estimate of the work before they go ahead and do it. You'll probably have to pay them something just to open it up and look at what they'll need to buy in order to give you the estimate, but you could be farther off IF they can fix it.
Lastly, I believe MOSS motors sells a replacement for the 1500 pump, its a currently available japanese pump, I believe. I think the cost is around $325, but if you could find out what kind it is, then go to the local auto junk/salvage yard and buy a used one!
Good Luck!
B.
