Battery Voltage Drop ( Sensodrive / Brakes)

[Timmz]

Hi Guys,

Just a quick check on 2 items.

 

(A)

I hav a digital volt meter installed. it registers a 0.2 to 0.4 volts drop whenever :

1) the senso drive gear box is initializing ( hear the gearbox clicks)

2) change of gears during driving

3) stepping on the brakes

 

is this normal? seems the gearbox controls does drain a lot of current, more than the alternator can supply.

 

(;)

I am using 5w30 weight engine oils of late and seem to hear some mechinical tapping sounds from the engine. It seems to be the rockers or the cams are making this tip tap sounds that follows the engine rpm speeds. Is this normal or shld I juz be safe n go back to 40 weight oils?

 

Thx

[smokescreen]

Hi Timmz,

 

I sure KFK or Iannez will be able to help - patience!!

 

Smokescreen

[iannez]

does the voltage drop below 12.5v when changing gear. if its not then you are not using the batterys resources. the alternator will take the voltage up to around 13.5v when engine is running but when you turn something on the alternator will put more out. if the alternator could not cope with changeing gear the the heated rear screen would kill the battery. as long as over all voltage does not drop below around 13v your alternator is doing just fine.

as for the oil i cant understand why you used a lighter oil in the first place. if i were you i would go back to what it tells you to use in the hand book and if that doesnt work try fully synth and if that doesnt work using the wrong oil has most probably damaged your engine.

[Timmz]

does the voltage drop below 12.5v when changing gear. if its not then you are not using the batterys resources. the alternator will take the voltage up to around 13.5v when engine is running but when you turn something on the alternator will put more out. if the alternator could not cope with changeing gear the the heated rear screen would kill the battery. as long as over all voltage does not drop below around 13v your alternator is doing just fine.

as for the oil i cant understand why you used a lighter oil in the first place. if i were you i would go back to what it tells you to use in the hand book and if that doesnt work try fully synth and if that doesnt work using the wrong oil has most probably damaged your engine.

 

Thanks for yur views iannez,

 

I am more worried abt the sensodrive gearbox not working correctly. The alternator gives 14 - 14.2v unloaded and down to 13.8v during gear changes. I am also getting random 'snow' modes for the gear box for no reason at all, sometimes it even comes when I start the car in the morning before I move off.

 

The manual states that the 30 weight oil is acceptable, am using 5w30 fully syn M1 oil, oil levels r ok . I seriously don think that there is engine damage. It is clicking and tippaty tap sounds, not banging or pinging ( I think) just that the sound was never that pronounced before.

[iannez]

voltage sounds about right but the snow mode sounds like a software problem that a update could sort out. not supposed to go back to semi synth after using fully but i would use a good flush and go back to a heavier semi synth if i were you.

[Timmz]

voltage sounds about right but the snow mode sounds like a software problem that a update could sort out. not supposed to go back to semi synth after using fully but i would use a good flush and go back to a heavier semi synth if i were you.

 

After 3 days at the agent's workshop

1) The water pump had somehow dislodged and was bent out of the proper alignment of the timing belt area. Tht was causing the ticking / tapping noise as the belt tension was wrong!!! Lucky there was no reported engine damage. They replaced the whole timimg kit. Is it true the timimg kit needs to be replaced evry 60K kms?

2) The agent claimed they changed out the gerabox ECU, but the snow mode still occurs tho the gear change is smoother now.

3) They are ordering a new clutch actuator for replacement as they suspect it might be the culprit. 2 weeks leadtime I heard, I hope it is true!

 

:( on the bright side, it is all covered under warranty, the bad is I never faced these niggles in Jap cars..... well well