Anyone Know About Alternators?

[Fury1630]

On the Rogue Runner's trip, I was having "issues" which seemed to be a flat battery (but wasn't) Co-incidentally the volt meter was varying between 11.5 & 13v. I convinced myself the exciter wire was at fault, though that's now looking less likely.

The problem is I now have no charge light. If I disconnect the connector & earth the pin the charge light comes on, so it's not the wiring or the bulb, for some reason it's not earthing through the alt.

Question 1, have I blown something up faffing with it in a ham-fisted manner while away?
Question 2, at it's now showing a reliable 13v on the volt meter will it be OK for the Cotwolds next weekend or should we take the Focus?

[Wingco]

I'm not much good on cars, but I would charge the battery up fully and leave standing over night not plugged in to any thing, check again tomorrow when connecting it back up to see what the voltage is, go for a quick run and check battery to see if it fully charged again. Check the alternator is charging again with your meter.
Is it a standard Zetec alternator ? or one of those Denso one's.

[Matth93]

I've been looking around on the internet and have found a webpage which describes this fault and it suggests it's the regulator. Hope this helps

[bigstuff]

What voltage do you have on the battery when not connected Tony?

[jeffw]

Regulator...

[Fury1630]

What voltage do you have on the battery when not connected Tony?

12.8v, when I got home yesterday it was at 13.

I'll take it out tomorrow & watch the volt meter.

Cheers all.

[chris68]

If you need parts for alternators etc then I can highly recommend the services of JCR Supplies www.jcrsupplies.co.uk. Very quick to supply info. by return of e-mail and seem very knowledgable. Worth a look.
Hope its of some use.

Chris

[bigstuff]

I would say battery cell failure Tony, it should be reading 13.8 -14.5 volts for a healthy battery.

[Fury1630]

I would say battery cell failure Tony, it should be reading 13.8 -14.5 volts for a healthy battery.

No, now I've tightened the starter case bolts up it spins like a dervish, there never was a lack of charge in the battery, it just sounded that way. I've ordered a 45A alternator replacement as both batteries I have read the same & both starters seem to perform the same. I think I popped something poking 12v at the alternator trying to work out what was wrong, when there was nothing wrong with it at all

I'll see if I can fix the 40a one & keep it as a spare.

[graham b]

never mind we all enjoyed bump starting the fury anyway