Charging System

Charging System

Battery
Ammeter
Ignition Switch
Voltage Regulator
Alternator

Starting System Service

Problem

No cranking and lights stay bright.

Cause

There is an open circuit in ignition switch. Open switch in starting motor. Open circuit in control circuit. Open fusible links.

Solution

Check switch contacts and connections. Check commutator, brushes and connections. Check solenoid, relay, switch and connections. Correct condition causing link to blow and replace link.

Problem

No cranking and lights dim heavily.

Cause

There is trouble in engine. The battery is low. Temperature is very low. Frozen armature bearings and short in starting motor.

Solution

Check engine to find the trouble. Check, recharge or change battery. Battery must fully charged with engine wiring circuit and starting motor in good condition. Repair starting motor.

Problem

No cranking and lights dim slightly.

Cause

Faulty or slipping drive. Excessive resistance or open circuit.

Solution

Replace parts of drive. Clean commutator, replace brushes, repair poor connections.

Problem

No cranking and lights go out.

Cause

Poor connection probably at battery.

Solution

Clean cable clamp and terminal and tighten clamp.

Problem

No cranking and no lights.

Cause

The battery is dead. Open circuit.

Solution

Recharge or replace the battery. Clean and tighten connections and replace wirings.

Problem

Engine cranks slowly but does not start.

Cause

The battery run down. The temperature is very low. Starting motor is defective. Undersized battery cables or battery. Mechanical trouble in engine.

Solution

Check, recharge or replace the battery. Battery must be fully charged. Engine, wiring circuit and starting motor must be in good condition. Test starting motor. Install cables or battery of adequate size and check engine.

Problem

Engine cranks at normal speed but does not start.

Cause

The ignition system is defection. The fuel system is defective. Air leaks in intake manifold or carburetor. The engine is defective.

Solution

Make spark test, check timing and check ignition system. Check fuel pump, line, carburetor or fuel injection system. Tighten mounting and replace gasket as needed. Check compression and valve timing.

Problem

Relay or solenoid chatters.

Cause

Hold in winding open. The battery is low. The contacts are burned.

Solution

Replace the solenoid. Charge the battery. Replace the burned contacts.

Problem

Pinion disengages slowly after starting.

Cause

Sticky solenoid plunger. Overrunning clutch sticks on armature shaft. Overrunning clutch defective. Shift lever return spring weak.

Solution

Clean and free the plunger. Clean armature shaft and clutch sleeve. Replace the clutch. Install a new spring.

Problem

Unusual noise.

Cause

High pitched whine during cranking before the engines fire. High pitched whine after engine fires as key is released. Loup whoop, buzzing or siren sound after engine fires but while starter engaged. Sounds like siren if engine is rewed. Rumble, growl or knock as starter is coating to a stop after engine starts.

Solution

There is too much clearance between pinion and ring gear. There is little clearance between pinion and ring gear. Defective overrunning clutch. Bent or unbalanced armature.

Ignition System

Ignition came from a word ignite which means to set on fire. This system provides spark by the use of spark plug to burn the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of an engine. The system operates by transforming 12 volts battery power to thousands of volts, enough to produce spark at the spark plug gap.

Components of Ignition System

Battery is the source of electrical power. The battery continually supplies electrical power needed by the system.

Ignition switch control the ignition system and other electrical circuits. Also called an automobile main switch.

Ignition coil is a transformer type device that transform the 12 volts battery power to 30,000 up to 60,000 volts. The coil is composed of two winding, the primary and secondary winding.

Distributor assembly is a device that distribute high voltage to the different spark plugs. It has also mechanism that advances the delivery of spark when engine is at higher RPM. The distributor also shaft opens and closes the contact point.

Contact point closes and opens the primary circuit to the ground so that the ignition coil can increase the voltage supplied by the battery.

Condenser is a device that absorbs and reduce electric arc when contact point closes.

High Tension Cables is the high voltage path from ignition coil secondary terminal to distributor cap center tower to different spark plug.

Spark plug is the device installed at the engine body and deliver high voltage to the combustion chamber by spark to ignite the air and fuel mixture.