I finished wiring the electric fans on my P38 so that I can turn them on manually. Might be helpful if I have to do a long and slow uphill climb in hot weather. Last year I installed an Autometer water temp gauge so that I can better monitor engine temps.
 
I finished wiring the electric fans on my P38 so that I can turn them on manually. Might be helpful if I have to do a long and slow uphill climb in hot weather. Last year I installed an Autometer water temp gauge so that I can better monitor engine temps.

That's the ticket, a few months of Rangie ownership and the dash is starting to look like KITT with LEDs and monitoring for everything. If I hear something resonate differently after going over a bump I have the bonnet up and my stethoscope out and tapping. I'm a bl**dy nervous wreck.
 
while I'm on the subject of batteries and charging, should an alternator always chuck 14.4v or will it back off when it see's the battery is full? I sometimes get as low as 13.4 at the ODB port
 
while I'm on the subject of batteries and charging, should an alternator always chuck 14.4v or will it back off when it see's the battery is full? I sometimes get as low as 13.4 at the ODB port
The voltage at the OBD port is always lower than actual battery voltage.
I have just discovered that some regulators do indeed back off when the battery is fully charged. I'll do a post about it.
 
The voltage at the OBD port is always lower than actual battery voltage.
I have just discovered that some regulators do indeed back off when the battery is fully charged. I'll do a post about it.
you're right, it will always be lower, but its a rough guide.
I'm just not sure my alternator is dying, or working properly
 
you're right, it will always be lower, but its a rough guide.
I'm just not sure my alternator is dying, or working properly
I fitted voltmeter/usb sockets in both P38's so I can monitor voltage.
Normally the original regulator in the P38 put out a constant 13.8 volts, modern batteries need more, on my Transit it's 14.7 volts, both are constant voltages. However the Mobiletron VR-VW010 regulator appears to be a smart regulator, immediately after starting, I see 14.6 volts dropping on a long run in the car to13.2volts which is a float charge level for a fully charged battery.
 
I fitted voltmeter/usb sockets in both P38's so I can monitor voltage.
Normally the original regulator in the P38 put out a constant 13.8 volts, modern batteries need more, on my Transit it's 14.7 volts, both are constant voltages. However the Mobiletron VR-VW010 regulator appears to be a smart regulator, immediately after starting, I see 14.6 volts dropping on a long run in the car to13.2volts which is a float charge level for a fully charged battery.
my alternator doesnt look new by any standard, but its new enough to push out more than 13.8v
bit of a surprise to the a dead battery today given it was full of beans a few days ago, maybe something has given up inside, it wasn't the most expensive battery when i bought it
 
my alternator doesnt look new by any standard, but its new enough to push out more than 13.8v
bit of a surprise to the a dead battery today given it was full of beans a few days ago, maybe something has given up inside, it wasn't the most expensive battery when i bought it
I had a battery fail on the P38 a few years back, got home from shopping all OK, got a call to go to the airport an hour or so later and it was as dead as a dodo.
 

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