Another alternator issue

19th April 2015, 14:11

So guys another breakdown occurred yesterday just as everything's been running well.
Drove car covering around 60 miles then just lost all power without any warning or any unusual noises etc.
Tried turning key and all power was gone.
Had breakdown out yet again and he jump started car and said it was loosing power on voltage meter when revs weren't on also not a lot of power going to battery said alternators a bit lazy.
Anyway he believes it's either the alternator wiring or the alternator itself so it was time to get the flat bed recovery truck.
Had all the casing off the wire today and can't see any splits etc although I have a constant ticking noise in the cab even with key not in ignition, see video.
The noise stops when I press the hazard warning switch in.

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Had a new battery fitted last month so not the battery.

19th April 2015, 14:11

19th April 2015, 23:22

sounds like a right ball ache mate.

for the ticking, when you say it disappears when you put the hazards on then it sounds like its you indicator relay doing the ticking then. next time you are working at the car you your hand to find the ticking relay, indicator relays in these should be grey. replace with another unit to see if the relay is at fault or something else.

as for your loss of power. first thing is obviously check the alternator wiring as its close to the mani. second to check is the main wire going to your starter motor. sounds daft but the way the circuit is, the positive feed from the alternator goes straight to the starter motor where it is then joined to the positive circuit of the rest of the car.

i hadnt tighten the nut on the starter properly which caused the car not to charge and gave me a load of difficulties until i tightened a nut lol

20th April 2015, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarzan

sounds like a right ball ache mate.

for the ticking, when you say it disappears when you put the hazards on then it sounds like its you indicator relay doing the ticking then. next time you are working at the car you your hand to find the ticking relay, indicator relays in these should be grey. replace with another unit to see if the relay is at fault or something else.

as for your loss of power. first thing is obviously check the alternator wiring as its close to the mani. second to check is the main wire going to your starter motor. sounds daft but the way the circuit is, the positive feed from the alternator goes straight to the starter motor where it is then joined to the positive circuit of the rest of the car.

i hadnt tighten the nut on the starter properly which caused the car not to charge and gave me a load of difficulties until i tightened a nut lol

Thanks for the reply mate, appreciated.
Been messing with it today but not getting very far, so spoken with a mobile auto electrician today and he is coming next week to have a look at the electrical issues I'm having.

Updates next week

25th April 2015, 18:24

How does "a lazy alternator" behave? If you have to rev up a lot to get a charge out of it there's something wrong with it. OK you might also have some wiring problems. Let us know what happens.

26th April 2015, 16:57

Have you checked earths?

27th April 2015, 16:22

So had auto electrician out today and after a few checks turns out its the alternator that's packed in so time for a new alternator.

4th May 2015, 18:58

I told ya! I used to repair alternators for a firm called Motemtronic, based in Waltham Abbey, Essex.