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09-06-2007
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#1 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SW England
Posts: 22
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90 ZR1 not charging
Hi All - This is my first post, and I was hoping it would be under happier circumstances...
 Back in the late 80's, I used to work as a test engineer at a place called the British Internal Combustion Engine Research Institute. One day Lotus turned up with a protype LT5 engine for us to do some flywheel explosion testing on. Basically, for litigation purposes, GM wanted to demonstrate that if someone who wasn't used to driving a manual-shift car drove a ZR1 with their foot half-on the clutch pedal, no matter how badly they abused the car, the flywheel wouldn't overheat, crack and break up. One day soon I'll write a detailed version of this, should anyone be interested. Anyway - I loved the LT5 so much that I said that one day, I would own one myself. That day was three days ago!  This afternoon I had to go to a meeting at our local university, and took my lovely 'new' '90 ZR1. It's an ex-Bill Streeter car, if that means anything to anyone. When I jumped in to drive home, the battery warning light was on, and the voltmeter was only showing about 12 volts. On the journey there, it was significantly higher. By the time I got home, it was down to about 11.5v. I've just tested it with a meter, and it is not charging - at all. The only thing I can think of is that I went over a large rise in the road, and the car landed with a heck of a thump - maybe this dislodged a connector?  Before I go pulling my new pride and joy apart, I'd really appreciate it if anyone here would be kind enough to advise me where to start looking. I worked as a race-car engineer for many years, so I'm not exactly helpless, but if this is a known issue, I'd rather benefit from the forum's experience and go straight to it!
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09-07-2007
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#2 |
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: West Norriton, Pa.
Posts: 36
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Re: 90 ZR1 not charging
First of all Congratulations on your purchase, I'm sure it's a thrill ...I know it was for me.
On to business. I have a 90 as well, and had the exact same issue about two months ago. Turned out to be slight corrision inside the negitive connection on the battery itself. Cleaned it out with a small brush and haven't had a problem since. Best of luck and enjoy your new car. 
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09-07-2007
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#3 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SW England
Posts: 22
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Re: 90 ZR1 not charging
Many thanks for your reply and kind sentiments!
As to the problem - I checked the alternator's output this morning, and it was zero. I pulled it off and checked the rectifier pack, and two of the diodes were dead. I've just driven for two hours to see if I could get some replacements, but was not successful. The store I went to said that they will have a new unit for me on Monday - I also ordered a new diode pack so that I can rebuild the original unit as a spare. Sadly, this means that I won't be able to enjoy the nice weather that has been forecast for the weekend - over here we've had rain for months... 
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09-07-2007
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: West Norriton, Pa.
Posts: 36
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Re: 90 ZR1 not charging
=D> Glad to hear you found the problem so quickly, but sorry to hear that you won't have them in time to enjoy the w/e weather, they'll be others my friend. Enjoy the new wheels. Where abouts in SW England do you live ??
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09-07-2007
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#5 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SW England
Posts: 22
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Re: 90 ZR1 not charging
Quote:
The roads here are not much wider than the car in places, and often have twelve-foot hedges either side. If this isn't bad enough, they're usually populated by maniac milk-tanker drivers and in-bred farmers in 10-ton tractors, so it can be somewhat nerve-wracking to travel along them when you're driving something that you want to keep immaculate...I should have said earlier that the car has done 32,000 miles from new and has never seen rain, so it's unusually good as far as most cars over here go!
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09-11-2007
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#6 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SW England
Posts: 22
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Re: 90 ZR1 not charging
I'm a happy man - the new alternator went on without too much hassle this afternoon, and the 'Z' is now charging again!
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09-13-2007
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#7 |
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: McHenry, Il.
Posts: 6,607
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Re: 90 ZR1 not charging
Welcome to the ZOO Paddy_SP
You will need to hook up with Gixer. http://www.corvetteclips.co.uk/index.html http://www.corvettechat.co.uk/profil...f=100&t=421858 http://www.corvetteclub.org.uk/ you proly know the last one already
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http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...9mcw/SIG-2.jpg http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o128/wb9mcw/vcm.gif "The Budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome will become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance." - Cicero, 55 BC " We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." - Abraham Lincoln |
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09-13-2007
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#8 | ||
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SW England
Posts: 22
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Re: 90 ZR1 not charging
Quote:
Quote:
http://www.people.ex.ac.uk/pbhook/harley.htm |
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09-13-2007
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#9 |
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: McHenry, Il.
Posts: 6,607
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Re: 90 ZR1 not charging
You are more than welcome Paddy -- I luv your bike terrific job there I read all abt it on your page--quite the acheivement if you don't beat yourself to death on the darn thing--lol
I have another good ZR-1 cyberfriend who lives in England his wife (Louise) actually owns the ZR-1 and he has a C5 and he is a big bike nut too! Mark was into Harleys b4 he got into these English bikes-- Here is their email (btw they are both cops) they are good friends with G. Jeal as well. Drop em a note and tell em I sent ya louiseknights@hotmail.com <<< Louise and Mark Knights here are a few pic's of their toys --     
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http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...9mcw/SIG-2.jpg http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o128/wb9mcw/vcm.gif "The Budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome will become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance." - Cicero, 55 BC " We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." - Abraham Lincoln |
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09-14-2007
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SW England
Posts: 22
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Re: 90 ZR1 not charging
Quote:
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Hybrid Mode
