aaaaaaarrrrrrggggghhh!!!!!!!:mad:

 

Driving round yesterday - everything seems fine.

Stop outside work (engine still running), battery light comes on, abs light comes on, voltage drop to 10.8-11.5 WTF??

 

Then just to cheer me up even more I get a burning plastic smell and puffs of smoke exiting the drivers side of the bonnet:confused:

 

Anyway, I drove home - lights still on, still low voltage (although the car started fine and all the electrics work without causing further voltage drop)- no more smokey burning, but still worried.

 

I disconnected the battery for half an hour in case it was some kind of spike or surge activating the lights. Reconnected it - no joy, still 11 v and lights still on. Thought bollocks to it and took it for a run - caned it and the lights went out and the voltage went back up. Now it all seems fine, but my paranoid side is trying to convince me I can still smell burning:eek:

 

Anyone got any ideas??

 

ta

Adam

Air-con pump seizing? Mine did and got the most awful burning smell and smoke!

 

(but re-reading your post, I would ignore my suggestion, the one below sounds alot more feasible!)

I'd hazard a guess at the alternator being dodgy. If it's working, voltage should be >13v.

Also, I think that the battery light usually comes straight off the regulator in the alternator, so would be a good place to start looking.

I was thinking poss the alternator - but would this account for the smokey burny burny smokiness??:confused:

could if its siezed and the belt is just rubbing over it.

get a fluke (multimeter) and measure the volts across the battery with the car running, most cars should be around 14v with the alternator working properly, with the engine off you should be gettin around 12 to 13v

I'm getting 11.9v with the engine off and 13.9 with it running. Had alook and all the belts seem to be running ok. Anyway, knock on wood, everything seems ok now - went out in it last night to practice my launches for sunday - and had no probs at all:rolleyes: