charging woes partII

[Ferret]

Hmm, bmg may be right here, but there's something bugging me.

The initialise/field line (the small alt wire) should NOT be live while the car's shut off, hence it shouldnt be able to leak current.

With everything off, unplug the small alternator connector and measure the voltage on it, relative to ground/bodywork/engine block. Your alternator warning lamp does light up when you have the key in pos2 with the engine not running doesnt it? (It shouldnt while the alternator is out of the car!)

Send it back and get a replacement under warantee, it cant do any harm!

[tim eh?]

bmg i totally believe you, it's just it's the second one i've sent back and they are telling me it's ok. (i still believe you, i have to convince them)

Hmm, bmg may be right here, but there's something bugging me.

The initialise/field line (the small alt wire) should NOT be live while the car's shut off, hence it shouldnt be able to leak current.

With everything off, unplug the small alternator connector and measure the voltage on it, relative to ground/bodywork/engine block. Your alternator warning lamp does light up when you have the key in pos2 with the engine not running doesnt it? (It shouldnt while the alternator is out of the car!)

Send it back and get a replacement under warantee, it cant do any harm!

There was no overnight voltage drop with the alternator out (battery terminals connected).

20mA draw this morning (alternator still out).

I measured voltage at the alternator leads to ground. (alternator still out)
- main lead reads same as battery
- small lead reads zero

The warning lamp was functioning with the alternator in. (on in pos2 pre-ignition otherwise off) With the alternator out the lamp does not funtion.

How do I test that there are no shorts in those circuits... i think i just okayed the main circuit but how do i check for problems in the small wire?

I guess I'll try and talk them into giving me another one, man this is soooo brutal but I'm happy to have discovered the problem sooner rather than later. The guy at the parts store tells me his guy says it's ok and I'm going to talk to them both today... I guess I just tell them everything...

fusible link... no way right? no way it gets hot and then restricts current? i guess that doesn't explain the battery drain...

[Ferret]

bmg i totally believe you, it's just it's the second one i've sent back and they are telling me it's ok. (i still believe you, i have to convince them)



There was no overnight voltage drop with the alternator out (battery terminals connected).

20mA draw this morning (alternator still out).

I measured voltage at the alternator leads to ground. (alternator still out)
- main lead reads same as battery
- small lead reads zero

The warning lamp was functioning with the alternator in. (on in pos2 pre-ignition otherwise off) With the alternator out the lamp does not funtion.

How do I test that there are no shorts in those circuits... i think i just okayed the main circuit but how do i check for problems in the small wire?

I guess I'll try and talk them into giving me another one, man this is soooo brutal but I'm happy to have discovered the problem sooner rather than later. The guy at the parts store tells me his guy says it's ok and I'm going to talk to them both today... I guess I just tell them everything...

fusible link... no way right? no way it gets hot and then restricts current? i guess that doesn't explain the battery drain...

Before you return it, just do me one favour....

Switch everything off in the car, pull the small wire off the back of the alternator and measure to see if there's any voltage from it to ground there. It's still nagging at me that your fault may be voltage leaking onto this line from somewhere - at which point it would be natural for your alternator to sink the current.

EDIT: Just spotted that you already have. Your alternator's totally shot, backwards leaking current.

[Tiger]

Who did you buy the alternator from?

[Ross]

The locks jumping around tells me you have a problem there. maybe an actuator failing. Naw not on one of these cars.

[tim eh?]

thanks ferret

Who did you buy the alternator from?

bought it at 'Pieces St-Henri', it's a 'DNS 2000' this is the sheet that came with it.

The locks jumping around tells me you have a problem there. maybe an actuator failing. Naw not on one of these cars.

no, i think it's possessed.

[Tiger]

Take it to autozone and similar... have them tested there.

[tim eh?]

Take it to autozone and similar... have them tested there.

Thanks - there is a place not far I think I can take it to, I don't think we have autozone, but if they give me the same one back I will definitely take it somewhere. The thing is... i think it only goes bad after it's been heated somewhat, so do i ask them to put a blowdryer on it or something?