Headlight dimming question F40

I noticed last night that the headlamps dim when the revs go down to idle and then strengthen again when you rev the engine. Sounds like either battery or alternator I suspect. Gotta get it checked out. Can anyone tell me is an alternator change a big job on the F40?

 

Dear Comrade Stradman,

This may be performed by removing the cover at the rear of the seats that provides access to the engine. The cover can be removed in less than two minutes. Access to the alternator will then be revealed.

With kind regards,

512 Tea Are

 

Alex,

This is what comrade Graham is talking about...
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Great! That way I will cut down on labour and the bill won't come out to 8 squillion quid

 

From the other side....
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Thanks Jas!

 

some more...
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I really must get round to stripping the car a bit like you have. It's just that the weather has been so damn cold and wet, I haven't been tempted yet. Hopefully when the weather improves(if it ever does!!)

 

Merry old England !

Hope you are well Alex !

 

Very interesting pics! Thanks for sharing Jas.

 

I am a little suprized that, there is an access panel right there in the F40. I thought the F40 had a full CF tub with a tubuar sub frames front anf rear. How well is the panel attacted to the back of the car? Will the panel come off if something magor happened in the engine compartment?

Jim

 

You have to have an access panel there on the F40. There are many componets in the front on the engine.

The F40 chassis is tubular steel with carbon fiber panels added in various places. It is not a "tub".

 

Holy Hell, how do you keep it so immaculate?

 

Dear Comrade TexasF355F1,

Your question may be answered by a cursory examination of Comrade Joe Sackey's F-40.
On this motor car you will find dust and general debris collected whilst traversing the plains of California where Comrade Joe Sackey drives his F-40 spiritedly for twelve and a half miles each month (on average). On the other hand Comrade RufMD drives his car from his garage to his trailer. My car is also very clean as I never drive it at all as it terrifies me. I did drive it once and, well, for a start it has manual gears and a clutch. It also has no power brakes or power steering. And it's frightfully noisy. It also goes far too quickly and one could so easily lose one's licence. I never feel entirely safe even when sat within it in my motor room. I think it's inherently dangerous. RufMD no doubt thinks so too. from this you will observe that Comrade Joe Sackey is a vertitable crusader and whom we all so respect and admire for he will go where mere mortals fear to tread. Bravo Joe!

With kind regards,

512 Tea Are

 

Is it just me, or does this particular photo that RufMD posted raise the blood pressure in a certain part of the body?! My gosh, man, I recline my driver’s seat right against that firewall. Well, off to the garage I go… ;-)

P.S. Not to do a completely useless post, I just had an alternator failure on my F40 a few weeks ago. Had the same symptoms. I had it rebuilt instead of buying a new one thinking the rebuilt one would be better than an old OEM one anyway. Also, because I wanted to minimize potential “issues” with the mechanic messing around inside my car (long story) because they wanted to remove the front seat, I had them go in from underneath.
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Good to know Tim, thanks.

 

Thanks Tim,

It's going into the shop in 10 days so I will find out. Good to know that it can be done from underneath though.
No wishing to sound pessimistic, but I have done a few searches on here before and a couple of people previously had their alternator rebuilt only to discover another failure early on- and hence regretted the rebuild. I dont know myself, although I'm personally inclined to get a new one if it turns out to be alternator.

 

I've heard the same. Of course, it took the first one 18 years to fail, so I may not see another failure for a very long time. - Tim