Can Mk1 electrics handle a few extras?

Hi There

I have 3 mk1's, 2 of which are displaying the same problem. There does not seem to be enough charge coming from the battery to operate certain things at any given time.

What I mean by this is that if I have the lights on, and am using the electric windows, the stereo will switch off. Or if I have the lights on and turn the stereo up gradually, it will shut off once the volume gets to a certain level. The horn also will cut out if there is too much going on.

It seems to me that the electrics system cannot get enough power to all connected systems if the draw is too high. It's not a case of dead battery, as I have replaced it and the problem persists. I have been advised to get a bigger battery, but if the problem is that the flow is capable of handling this much demand, I don't think a bigger battery will solve this. Has anyone come across this problem before and if so do you have a fix

Tks

Sean

Yes and yes

Older wiring not intended for so many accessories will indeed give all the symptoms you have . Also internal black death on the copper cables will give voltage drop , hence dim front head lights etc .

Solution , relays and new power taken straight of the battery to those relays [correctly fuzed] .

Have a look and read the explanation on the link below for more details [it covers lights but the same principal applies] .

Cheers……………..

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

if your running too much stuff the volts/amps wont be able to handle it, even my VR6 lights dim a bit when you operate the electric windows! its just the current draw

1980`s electrical systems werent designed to run 4 channel amplifiers in cd players, electric windows or sub woofers and big speakers!!!

i can see my dash lights dim if i turn the old juke box up :wink: just try not to use the lot at the same time or you will burn something out!!

that's a great help - Thanks a million

Best thing i ever did for this was replace the loom between the alternator and battery.

Ever since then, the charge has been spot on and I have no issues running;

1. Big pioneer amp
2. Spotlights
3. Electric windows
4. Map reading light!

The car starts better and doesn't eat batteries any more. Best thing I ever did for the old girl!