well just got back from 2 weeks in florida and the saph wont start used the booster pack then took battery off and charged it over night still nothing so used my mates jump leads today worked straight away but soons i turn it off it wont start again when we jumped it again there was spaks from the jump lead and i think it's the alternator was glowing and smoking so what do people think do i need new battery or both or is it something else sorry i dont really know much yet

p.s even when you charge the booster pack for hours soons you connect it to the battery it drains it

 

 

if you go round the back of the car mate you will see a badge saying "COSWORTH" thats your problem right there lol

 

The sparks show it is passing a current that's all when connecting to the other battery.
It sounds as though your battery may have had it, but certainly if you were getting sparks from the alt this is not good and needs looking at.
The alternator can certainly discharge the battery and make it flat, so temporarily disconnect the battery charge wire at the alternator, big thick red lead 13mm nut and tape up well, charge battery up and see what it is like without the alt connected, if now ok the alt only is at fault, if no difference the battery is goosed and you may well be looking at a new alternator assuming nothing silly like a loose lead on the alt.
tabetha

 

wouldnt even have a clue where to start there mate charging the alternator ect ill see if one of my mates can help me out gutted was really looking forward to going on a drive today

 

on my 2wd saff theres a little wire on the back of the alternator that has come off and fucked around like that,just check it on yours.

 

take it to any garage and they will drop test the battery for you and see if the alternator is goosed!

 

hmm might try that tommorow after work just annoying having to ask people to jump lead me everytime i go out and turn the engine off

 

u sure u have the leads on the right way mate

 

u mean the jump leads ??? yes it starts the car just when i turn it off its completely dead again!

 

My money is on the battery being buggered - Especially with the cold weather coming in now and it being stood for 2 weeks.......

 

I had this on mine, was the battery!

luckily i had a battery in my garage that had a little charge in it so carried that round with me until i could sort a new battery! new battery on and no problems!

 

well im getting a new battery sunday off my mate with a 3 year warrenty so hopefuly itl be sorted soon

 

That will be the blue wire and won't be causing this problem that stops it from charging and is common on most Fords, I would personally say your battery is dead.

The reason the alt could be glowing is when it tries to charge the battery it's shorting through it and so causing the alternator to glow which is not good!

If you do disconnect the red wire from alt as said firstly MAKE SURE you disconnect the black battery earth lead first (Negative) AND TAPE up the connector on the red wire at the alt and make sure it does not come into contact with any metal, although personally I don't think alt has anything to do with it.

Martin