Where's the alternator relay?

1396midget

Well-Known Member
I can't find it :(

I'm finally changing the alternator to an ACR one, after the AC one seized tonight and snapped the belt...

I know how to get rid of it, know how to test it but can't find it.

I've found the Voltage regulator box (in passenger glovebox place) and I've found the IGN lamp relay (in the driver's glovebox)...

Car's a 1970 S1 V8.

Help!

Thanks :)

Rob
 
Look for a 6RA relay the same as the one used as a starter relay. I can't remember if it's in the glovebox or on the inner wing somewhere.
 
Good pic Hans, thanks

Well I've got 2 things that look like that, but from different sides of the car. the big red thing (4TR written on it) in the passenger side, and the silver cylinder which I thought was the IGN lamp relay from the drivers side (RHD car) that's got 3 spades on it with E AL and WL on it.

Can't find anything inside the car that looks like a starter relay (sort of grey tin elongated cube), or indeed any sort of relay. Will go look in the engine bay next. It couldn't have been removed could it? Just there's a clip onto the side of the foot well at the top that looks like it would have had something in it... it's definitely an AC alternator.

cheers :)
 
harveyp6 almost exactly a year ago said:
and early cars had a 6RA relay to isolate the 4TR control unit when the ignition is off, but that was deleted before the introduction of the 3500S, so your car shouldn't have one, but the same function is still required and so the relay was replaced by a pair of contacts in the ignition switch.

Now I did have a strange contact thing in the back of my ignition switch (I don't any more since it bunt out) so maybe this is the answer to the hiding Relay. I can post up some pics of the footwells if you like, might help?
 
1396midget said:
harveyp6 almost exactly a year ago said:
and early cars had a 6RA relay to isolate the 4TR control unit when the ignition is off, but that was deleted before the introduction of the 3500S, so your car shouldn't have one, but the same function is still required and so the relay was replaced by a pair of contacts in the ignition switch.

Now I did have a strange contact thing in the back of my ignition switch (I don't any more since it bunt out) so maybe this is the answer to the hiding Relay. I can post up some pics of the footwells if you like, might help?


Oh dear, why do these things come back to haunt me? :LOL:

The contacts in the ignition switch are only on the cars with the steering lock, as it was for the last of the 11AC equipped cars, from the intro of the 3500S to the change to the ACR, not on a Series 1 like yours, so the relay should be around there somewhere.

Pics always help. Up under the dash with a similar view as the pic Hans posted.
 
Thanks everyone!!

Right:

Here's what I've got so far



I've got the IGN relay/controller in my hand there, I took it off to read the number on it. Think that other thing is the flasher relay. It's got German written all over it and goes to the tell tale indicator light near my foot. Just behind the wires I've taped out of the way in red there's the clip thing that I don't know what it's for.



All I have on this side is the red box...
 

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I can't see a 6RA in either of those pics, but that's not to say there isn't one hiding away somewhere. I assume the taped up wires are from the warning light control unit, two of which you have joined together?
 
yes indeedy Harvey

Looking at the wiring diagram, as it's a relay and I've disconnected the 2 wires on either side of the main current part, then presumably it won't matter if it is still there hiding somewhere, as the relay will energise but not do anything?
 
IIRC the 6RA is there to isolate the 4TR when the key is out, so if the plug is pulled off the 4TR then as you say although the 6RA would still be energising, (wherever it might be) it won't actually be doing anything. I'd have to look at the wiring diagram to be certain but I can't think of anything wrong with the theory offhand.
 
harveyp6 said:
Oh dear, why do these things come back to haunt me? :LOL:

:LOL: Yes I remember that discussion well Harvey. About 2 years ago IIRC. I was also looking for a 6RA alternator relay and it turned out that my car was one of those with the contacts in the ignition switch and no 6RA.

harveyp6 said:
IIRC the 6RA is there to isolate the 4TR when the key is out, so if the plug is pulled off the 4TR then as you say although the 6RA would still be energising, (wherever it might be) it won't actually be doing anything. I'd have to look at the wiring diagram to be certain but I can't think of anything wrong with the theory offhand.

Sounds good to me. If the 4TR is no longer required then there is no longer a requirement for the 6RA either :D

Dave
 
It works :)

Ignition light works as it should, and charges @ 14V on a fast idle, 13.4 on tickover. Even managed to un-seize the old one but it has about 1/4 of an inch of endfloat. Anyone want it?

Thanks for all your help guys, looks like P6 is back on the menu! :D :D :D
 
Hi im looking for my field isolating relay on my late 1972 3500 with a 11ac alternator.Any ideas??? Thanks Alan
 
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If you mean the 6RA relay, not all cars have them, IIRC early cars did, later ones (still with the 11AC) didn't, the same function was done by a switch on the back of the ignition barrel.
 
If you mean the 6RA relay, not all cars have them, IIRC early cars did, later ones (still with the 11AC) didn't, the same function was done by a switch on the back of the ignition barrel.
Thanks i will look into it.It has a steering lock that points to it being a later car with the 11ac Alternator.
 
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