Hi all, been a while. Had to jump start my Connect the other day, and ever since then, my battery light now comes on after 20 seconds every time i start it. It still seems to charge, but not at its normal rate? I have googled what i can and i've read something about 'Smartcharge'? I've checked the 3 pin wiring coming from the alternator it all seems ok?

Kind of drawn a blank at this point, anyone had this issue before?

Cheers, Ed.

 

smart charge is in the ecu, but in the past there has been an issue with the loom chaffing on the drivers side wing on a lot of ford cars which gives the same issue

 

smart charge is in the alternator not the ecu probably charging on default keep an eye on the battery it might boil up my money is on the alternator horrid system[default is 50 amps all the time]

 

I agree with these guys above

But I'd trace wires back from alternator plug iirc it's the blue wire that fails (could be wrong) chafes near to the radiator also had corroded wire going into multi plug too so check thoroughly

You can buy a replacement wiring harness for this common fault

 

I've spent a bit of time checking the wiring, the blue wire has continuity all the way to the ecu, but still unsure where the grey wire goes yet. The red wire is showing 13.8v (unplugged) when engine running which i'm told is correct. I've even swapped the ecu for a spare one i have and it does exactly the same thing.

I'm going to swap out the alternator this week to see if its that, i can't really see what else it can be apart from the grey wire. My money is on the alternator being goosed due to the jump start. I've read these smartcharge systems can spike upto 18v when jump starting. We'll soon know...

Cheers for your help so far

Ed

 

I doubt it is but have you checked the wiring loom that goes to the alternator and clips into the radiator. Its is the 3 pin plug. These looms are commom for rubbing through.

Whats the voltage coming out of the alternator.

 

Smart charge is in the alternator AND ECU, they "talk" to each other.
The ECU tells the alternator at which voltage it has to charge,
could be over 16 volt at low ambient temperatures.
The grey wire is also going to the ECU (so 2 wires to ECU).
The red wire is a sense wire.
It will now be charging at 14 volt, so a bit lower than normal.
The 50 amp quote is rubbish, the current depends on what is needed
to charge to 14 volt at the battery. If the battery is full and there is no drain
the current will be less than 15 amp.
A lot of alternators are replaced because the mechanics don't understand
this system.

 

err if the alternator is faulty in the smart charge it will default at 14 volts very true but the default amps is 50 [am not a mechanic been repairing reconditioning them 25 years so think I know what im saying

 

So you are saying it will charge with 50A even though there's nothing
in the car that needs the current? Where will it go then? Thin air?

 

It's not recommended to jump start any ford with smart charge as it can spike the system as you say. Have you seen this?

http://www.petercoopercarrepairs.co....t_charging.htm

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...lGnvU75ZsUPPAg