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Non-Ferrari tech question for those good with engines

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by sixcarbs, May 27, 2016.

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  1. sixcarbs

    sixcarbs F1 World Champ
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    #1 sixcarbs, May 27, 2016
    Hi, Mods please delete if inappropriate.

    Having a bit of an issue on a Lada Niva. No computers to speak of. Battery is less than a year old. Car only has 30,000 KM's on it, a 2011.

    1. At idle, radio cut off and lights dimmed. Then returned to normal.
    2. Had to jump start the next day but car ran fine.
    3. Had to jump start again the same day.
    4. On ride home engine starting sputtering, like it was not running on all cylinders. Felt like it was going to stall but I was almost to garage and managed to get it there. RPM kept dropping with foot on gas.
    5. Car died as I was parking it, pushed it into spot. Have not attempted restart.
    6. As I was parking car got very hot. Usually an electric fan turns on when I am parking but did not this time.

    Fouled plugs, alternator, something else?

    Any thoughts would be appreciated.

    Thank you,

    Sixcarbs
     
  2. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 dm_n_stuff, May 27, 2016
    Sure sounds like a voltage issue, or amps, or both.

    Put a voltmeter on the battery, see what it's doing with the car off, and then check the alternator and battery for voltage when it's running.

    Old battery could certainly be the culprit. Not enough amps to crank properly, or enough to run fans, etc.

    Just curious, did you check the fuse to the fan in question.

    D
     
  3. Gizzi

    Gizzi F1 Veteran
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    #3 Gizzi, May 27, 2016
    Your alternator, or associated alternator wiring is at fault.
     
  4. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    #4 yelcab, May 27, 2016
    This has nothing to do with engines.
     
  5. mello

    mello F1 Veteran
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    #5 mello, May 27, 2016
    "radio out and lights dim" blatantly says electrical issues. Most likely a fried alternator and it took the battery with it. If you're not proficient in DIY, take it to a pro. Otherwise, remove the alternator and have a shop test it. This would be a good start. Best of luck and get back to us as to the outcome.
     
  6. vincep99

    vincep99 Formula 3
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    #6 vincep99, Jun 6, 2016
    In addition to dm-n-stuff's recommendation you could afterwards remove the negative battery lead (with the engine off) and check for a draw with your voltmeter between the cable and the battery post. If it shows full battery voltage then switch to amps to see how big the draw is. Pull out a fuse at a time to isolate the circuit.
     
  7. Andrew D.

    Andrew D. F1 Rookie

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    #7 Andrew D., Jun 6, 2016
    Often electrical intermittent issues are a grounding problem. Ladas can be fixed with a screwdriver and adjustable wrench.
     
  8. sixcarbs

    sixcarbs F1 World Champ
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    #8 sixcarbs, Jun 10, 2016
    Follow up.

    I live in a very odd part of the world. Belgrade. I think the people here are rated the most distrustful of others in the world.

    My fiancee did not want me to take it to the dealer because she thinks they are a rip off, particulalrly when someone comes in with an American accent.

    I called the dealer. A new alternator was 100 Euros, a new and better alternator was 120 Euros. Installation was 2000 Dinars (18 Euros). All would have been fine by me.

    I took out the battery and charged it over night. Car started and seemed to run without issue.

    Anyway, my fiancee arranges some guy to come by my garage to fix the car. Some old Serbian mechanic shows up with a bunch of hand wrenches. Fine.

    He plugs his volt meter into the lighter while the car is running and declares it is the alternator. He removes it and says he will take it to be repaired. He returns about 5 hours later with the alternator and the replaced parts. One was a 3/4 circle piece of plastic.

    Installs everything, everything works fine.

    Charges me 6000 dinars for the repair shop, and 6000 dinars for his time. About 100 Euros total.

    I'm fine with it all. Probably not the best value considerering the price of a new, or new and upgraded one, but the guy did make a house call and save me a lot of time getting it to the dealer and back which is across the river in Zemun.

    Fiancee is furious. Says I was ripped off and that repair probably only cost him 1000 dinars. Who knows? I am so happy that she picked him and not me. She won't stop talking about it a day later.

    Thanks for all of the help and suggestions here.

    Sixcarbs
     
  9. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #9 tomc, Jun 10, 2016
    [​IMG]
    With any luck, your fiancee will forget. In a week or two! ;)
    Glad the car's fixed.
    T
     
  10. owbow

    owbow Rookie

    Jul 5, 2016
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    #10 owbow, Jul 5, 2016
    In Ibiza this would have cost you about $1000

    Nice car BTW, I had one a few years ago.
     

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