MGB & GT Forum

Sure didn't need no coffee this 6 AM with the "wake-up" I got! Strangest Prince vs MG attack yet.

I was expected at a 06:30 beachfront sunrise photo shoot w/ 3 fellow B'ers but my '80 RB w/ new battery said "NOOOO!!"

Its lighter has a plug-in digital volt meter fitted, showing a normal 12.8V as I hopped in and turned the key. Ign on, heard the SU fuel pump ticks, tried the signals and brake lites, all OK. Then - no cranking starter, just frantic solenoid clicking and within FOUR seconds the indicated voltage had dropped to 8.5. Second attempt - totally dead like no battery fitted, WTF!! What could draw so fast and massively???

Only remotely electrical thing I did day before was had tach and clock out for cleaning, and was cautious about refitting the wires properly. Looking at the battery, no signs of arcing, shorts, scorching etc, just rusty tired-looking terminals and earth cable. I then noticed the voltage had recovered to just over 12 so I hit the key ... VROOOM, lit right up. Ran it 5 min, 14+V displayed, shut down, tried again ... DEAD.

I figured since I was already eying the battery with no clue where else to check, let's swap the nasty little terminals for 2 marine grade brass ones I had, and make a better chassis contact for the earth cable. The cable itself (a Lucas one ) checked out fine for continuity and I made a SS stud to securely fix it to the chassis. Someone jammed a new, huge Group 24 battery in this RB's bin; looks like a major PITA to remove - isn't the right battery a 26?

It occurred to me maybe the hot term. had touched the chassis so I fitted a boot to it. After reconnecting everything I checked the voltage at the batt. - back to 12.5, wow. Hit the key ... VROOOM ... went to the beach 2 hrs late LOL - started it like 50 times today, been fine ever since.

I wonder what the problem was ???

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~ Marco and Viajero ~



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-08-31 10:30 PM by forestghost07.

2 inches longer 1 inch taller than a 26
26 fits CBB don't know what goes best in a RBB,I know I don't
just kidding looks nice ,maybe the ground or the terminals.You may never know since you did more than one repair at a time so hard to narrow down a batch fixed solution. At least it is solved.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-08-31 10:32 PM by ohlord.

It's one of those mysteries that no one except the Prince knows the answers to!

(Off in the distance) Bwaaaahahahaha!!

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Wayne Sanders
Rose Lodge, OR
(TD 4288)

"I don't care to belong to any club that accepts people like me"-joined Willamette Valley Club in 2011

79/65 MGB - Carmine- V-6 - T-5

This car is now very nearly completely done. Sure to find something else, but not now.........And 12 years later, I'm starting to fix things that were new when we built the car. It's pretty well de-bugged!

Marco,

Sounds like you had quite the "adventure" this morning... You'd be surprised how little corrosion on a battery terminal can cause such erratic behavior! Replacing the terminals with marine grade brass ones is a great improvement. I would recommend one more thing (if you haven't already done it...). Take both of them off the battery one more time and coat the battery terminals with a light coat of Vaseline. Especially the Negative side (this one corrodes the worst due to direction of current travel). Put a little on the terminals too... Not much, just a very light coating, enough to make it look "wet". MG batteries tend to be "forgotten" due to location. The Vaseline will NEVER let that nasty greenish blue stuff (corrosion) "grow" on your terminals again. Problem solved for the life of the battery.

You may have noticed all the other battery terminal products sold at car parts stores. Don't waste your money! Vaseline is the oldest mechanic trick in the book... Been using it for 40 years now, works like a charm!

P.S. Also good for other infamous Lucas electrics to prevent corroded terminals, bullets, etc., etc. Many folks out there complain about Lucas. Lucas only did what was proper at the time. All these modern connectors and aluminum wiring were not "on the market" yet. Brass terminals will form a light film of corrosion causing 99.9% of all wiring problems in our LBCs. Clean them up, add a very light coat of Vaseline and she'll go for 100,000 miles...

Paul

Enjoy!!!

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Those who confuse Burro and Burrow don't know their @ss from a hole in the ground...

Why do so many people NOT tie their batteries down?

Hehe hi Wayne, you've heard him too eh! Hey, could be worse, he could stink like rotting flesh LMAO!!

Listen mates, I know this RB's oversize battery is loose in its bin and hopefully I'll figure out how to fix it down ASAP. Meantime the pos term. is safe w/ its boot.

Marco,

One other thing to consider as well... This popped in my head after I hit the "Post"button. A voltage reading on a battery does not necessarily tell it's condition/amperage output. Many bad batteries will still charge up to 12 or 13 volts but draw down immediately when a load is placed upon them. The only thing a voltage gauge is good for is to check for alternator output. Should usually be 12.5 to 13.5 or so with the engine running...

You probably already knew this, I just wanted to throw it out there for others in case they don't realize...

Paul

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Those who confuse Burro and Burrow don't know their @ss from a hole in the ground...

X2

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• The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.
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In the forty two years I have owned a B, cleaning terminals and connectors every three or five years is important.

What you described here is a classic case. Very common.

The vasoline is a good idea.

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L.W.(Larry)Baygents
63B
77 Spit

Now Marco, you know this wasn't a "Lucas" attack, Credit where credit is due; it was a DPO, cobbled together, throw a mishmash of parts at it, jam it in there just to make it work, attack.

I'd hope for closer to 13.8 to 14.0V with the engine running

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07 Saturn Vue called Deja

Don't got to bed mad - stay up all night plotting revenge

X2, Straight to it, no Lucas glitch here particularly coming from a 'self claimed' electrics guru!!

Basic maintenance is the cure for most everything ...........

B

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Life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?"

Sounds like an Interstate dead cell attack to me.
Chris...

Every English auto electrical switch has three settings;dim,flicker and off.

Haha, hi Wray ... yes, it was only "lucas" as far as the earth cable was involved, I agree

It was indeed owner's "mechanics" - this B is on consignment w/ me and the whole car was/ is a victim of the most horrid rip-off work you could imagine The list of things I've sorted out is over FOUR pages (and like 100 hrs) long in a month Thank goodness they left the 45K mile motor/ g'box/ OD alone!

Just 2 examples - (1) I have to replace the BRAND NEW door and A-post seals; every bloody 1 of 'em was cut too short leaving huge gaps - is this a shame or what?

(2) Owner was charged $100 for a Mercedes PCV valve! Know where I found it? Gutted and used as 3 way connector for the ZS carb choke water line ... OMG

But she sure looks pretty

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~ Marco and Viajero ~