Hello chaps,

I took my 2cv for its first run to the MOT centre and back the other day, and the coil got extremely hot resulting in the poxy thing refusing to restart. It also refused to idle. I set about tinkering and got it ticking over nicely today and left it doing so for five minutes to make sure all was well. When I switched it offand tried restarting it wouldn't and the coil was too hot to touch again

That made me think 'The coil's knackered'

Then, when adjusting the handbrake earlier I rested my arm on the battery and felt it tingling (my arm). the battery has leaked everywhere and I'd put my arm in a big puddle of acid. Fair enough, these things happen like.

So, I changed the battery for the one that was on my ami, and not yet 6 months old.

The voltage regulator had previously been replaced with an aftermarket type, different to the standard citroen one. The wiring for it had been cut about a bit, and two wires, I assume positive, were plugged onto it. The rest of the block connector usually plugged onto a standard volt reg was left dangling. I assumed the new voltage regulator earthed (if it has to?) through the three screws fixing it to the bodywork.

Am I right in thinking that it might have been overcharging, causing the battery lo leak and the coil to overheat?

Would that have been because either the two wires I plugged onto the volt reg are the wrong way round, or the wire left on the block connector currently dangling should be employed somewhere, or the regulator doesn't earth through the fixings as i thought?

Or did i just get unlucky with a duff battery and a shit coil?

I know that's a bit of a waffle there, but That's all the info I can give.

I will, tomorrow, go and see what the voltage reads across the battery when it's running, which I should have done today but it's only now it's occured to me that's what the problem may be.

Russell,
you're on the right track, as a battery that's gassing/bubbling is definitely overcharging.

Dyane/Ami type regulators do earth through their frames, but if it's a 2CV type, the three connections are 'In --- 12 volts', 'Out --- regulated excitation voltage to the alternator and an earth.
If the earth's missing or not connected, the alternator's output is unregulated and can go over 18 volts...

You should see no more than 14.4 volts with a regulator which is working correctly.

ken

Great, thanks Ken. I'll check on the morrow what the voltage across the battery is when it's running, and have another look at the voltage reg. There'd definately only two terminals on it, so possibly I'll rob the ami's for the sakes of it getting an MOT then set about ordering a new one monday.

And is the overcharging liable to be what screwed the coil?

And, how do i tell which wire was meant to go where in the original block connector when I fit the standard volt reg back on?


Thanks...

Shed

Russell,
Power/wattage increases in proportion to the square of the voltage, so that's the most likely culprit, although too much dwell/contact breaker gap too small doesn't help either.

If the wires have been cut off the original connector block, you'll need to hook up your multimeter.
Set it to 'volts', switch on the ignition and find the wire with 12 volts on it.
( This would have had a blue sleeve originally.)

Next, with it set to 'ohms', identify the wire which has zero resistance to earth.
( White sleeve...)

The left over wire will be the excitation feed to the alternator, with zero resistance between it and the blade connector at the alternator.
( Grey sleeve)

Regulator pins viewed from underside, not sure if this will work.

Exc I ........ I +ve
........... _
....... Earth


ken

Some pics if it helps...

I've got a mechanical regulator knocking around if it's any good to you. Do you want me to stick it in the post?