When driving the car voltage is usually around 13 (on ford racing gauge), but when the fans kick in this momentarily drops to 11ish, then back up to just about 12.

However if its dark and I have lights on it is around 12 anyway and drops really low when the fans kick in, especially if I have stereo on as well. Having dipped beams and fogs on really seems to drop the voltage.

It may just be cossie paranoia but is this normal?

Does it sound like the alternator needs replacing? Battery has no problem holding charge, even if the car is not driven for a couple of weeks. Alternator belts were replaced by Reyland about a month ago.

 

fit a 90 amp alternator from a 4x4 or some other fords (grannys?) and beef up the cable from the battery to the alternator as well.

Whats your gauge feed wired up to?

 

I'll def look into beefing up the cable.

I've no idea on the feed wire: gauge was fitted when I bought the car. However I don't think its far wrong as the lights dim when the fan kicks in so something is struggling.

 

well anything the light will dim when anything that draws alot of current comes on, they shouldn't stay dim though, if they do it could be your votlage regulator maybe?

 

No, just dims as voltage dips when the fans come in, then goes back to normal when it goes back up to 12 volts.

I just don't like driving round with only JUST 12 volts, would like to improve it.

I'll look into a thicker cable, any idea on the price of an uprated alternator?

 

The thing to remember about alternators is they only put out CONTINUOUSLY around 1/3 - 1/2 of the rated power, if you have big boom boom stereo this is amazingly power hungry.
If you just have all normal stuff it sounds as though the brushes may be worn, a std recon alt will do the job at around Ł45-Ł55, it will have new regulator/rectifier as well.
tabetha

 

Its an aftermarket headunit and a pair of 6x9's so nothing OTT. I like the sound of the engine as well so if the stereo is on its usually quiet anyway!

Cheers for the advice fellas.

 

Also remember you will be getting low voltage at the fuel pump so dont boot it about.

Steve.

 

like i said........that would depend on where the gauge is wired into

 

That should be ok or as good as it can be as it was rewired by NMS when it was mapped, and is now on a custom loom straaight off the battery.

 

deffo renew the wire, i gained 1v at the battery, at idle by simpy replacing the feed cable......

 

That's what I like - cheap and effective!

 

Just to clarify, do you mean rewire from Alt to battery?


Also, where is the best place to wire a volt meter into?

 

yes alt to battery,it gets cooked by the turbo....


as for voltmeter depends what you want to keep an eye on tbh....