Hi,

Thanks for the replys, I went to a small local car electrical place, Turns out the halfords 'new' alternator that cost £70 was a re-con ! Also it was a 70amp unit, though you are right to expect a 55amp cabriolet as it should have been.

So as some will know there is a removable box on the back of most alternators that used to be the regulator, well its now the brushes too. It was these that were at fault, he had them in stock about £18.

When fitted charging was sorted, however the other probs got worse till the sub was removed, this culminated in the whole sidelight circuit going down in the stalk.

That was fun as we cannot afford a new one so went to the scrappy, he had at least 10 slightly different ones !

Of course this all happened some while back and since removing the sub there has been no issues, apart from the stalk sticks on full beam some times.

So the answer was alternator brushes worn out, yes you can stick the higher amp alternator in, and no you cannot just stick a powerfull amp and sub in without damaging the car. ( the stero and 6=9s are still going fine).

I have to say lads, i loved mk1/2 escorts, im 41. But these are rubbish. I have a 21yr old bmw 316 base model, no ew's just mirrors and c/l, i had 2*12' subs a few years back and i had no probs ecept the boot lock fell out and a lot of bulbs were bought, oh and i had to pack the no plate with cloth ,

thanks for replys nick