The engine is all in the Ka and running well, but i think i have overlooked something... the alternator.

After a few minutes driving, the battery just dies and the car starts spluttering. Charge it back up, and its fine again - untill it runs low again obviously.

Are there any simple tests you can do to test if the Alt is working tidy?

Only think i know to try now is put a multi meter on te blue wire from the Alt to see if theres 12volts going through it, which would show on the escort dash (i havent yet wired that intot he ka).

 

think all u can do really is get it running shove a volt meter on the battery to see if its charging, tbh if its going dead then does sound like the alt is fucked. on my old fiesta the alt went, put a brand new battery on and in 5 hours it was flat. one of the dynos in the alt had gone which stoped it from taking jouice when the ingition was off

 

I find the easiest way to test an alternator is give it some form of written exam

 

 

 

Sorry, I'm bored

I think I might have to blow some stuff up in my garden

 

that KA must look insane on escos rims!!! got any more pics?

 

a good alternator should output 13.8-14.2 volts

put a multimeter across the battery terminals and have somebody rev the car up 2000-3000rpm.

 

Just had the car running outside for 5 minutes now with a multimeter on the battery, it started off on something like 12.30 volts, and slowly counted down to just under 12, around 11.95 volts in the end when i knocked it off. then after that it hasnt got enough beans to turn the starter motor again

** i havent really got any tidy photos of the ka sorry. will get some sorted when its back on the road and all cleaned up.

 

thats not enough to charge the battery dude!! get the battery checked out as well!!!

 

Battery was checked recently, thats fine Now to find an Alternator this close close to christmas!

 

yep that alternator aint gona charge shite at that rate!

 

Hello mate

if your battery is going flat your alternator aint charging, simple as. Have you connected your battery light up on the dash

Sounds stupid i know.....

 

Nah, havent connected the battery light to the dash yet. thats pretty much one of the only things ive got left to do.

Getting a new alternator tomorrow.... 60 quid!!! i was expecting literally twice that! landed!

 

not that simple! wot if the battery isnt holding the charge? or if something is causing a drain on the battery! not always down to the alternater!

 

rs tommy: Bet you it is!!! If the alternator was working it should run forever and a day once started, u can remove the battery once the cars running and it makes no difference!

His car is cutting out while its running, therefore there is a charging fault

kossie: BINGO!!!!!! thats your fault.

THE ALTERNATOR CANNOT COMMENCE CHARGING WITHOUT A BATTERY LIGHT, IT USES THE BULB IN ORDER TO COMMENCE CHARGING, CONNECT THAT BLUE WIRE UP TO A BULB WITH A SWITCHED LIVE FEED AND ALL YOUR PROBLEMS WILL BE SORTED

Trust me, ask any autoelectrician! Sounds silly i know i thought the same until i learnt about it

 

Correct! Was just bout to post the same thing

 

kossie: Just seen u said ur buying a new alternator.......

DONT. Its the battery light im tellin u now! I'll bet u my car! Thats how sure i am!!!!!!!!

 

rs tommy:

 

i quoted what i said to kossie before i knew bout the batt light not being connected.

but you quoted if your battery is flat your alternater isnt charging, simple as. i jus ment in general that having a flat battery might not just be down to the alternater, if a battery isnt holding a charge then the car will run on the battery power alone for a while untill flat !

 

Oh yeah very true, when i said if your battery is going flat it was because he had already said that he had it running with the volt meter going on it, and he also said the battery had been checked

That thing about the battery light always sounds like a load of bollucks when you first hear it, when my mate told me i was like whatever mate u duno what your on about lol. Bet u were thinkin the same lol.

Hopefully it sorts his problem hes guna if hes already bought that new alternator

 

if somethings draining the battery (ie interior light) that wouldnt show up on a battery test tho

but yep right about the old battery warning light

 

A good point none the less, but irrelevant to this as he already said he starts it up and then it goes flat while its running

 

same ere lol ba humbug soooooooo poooo on tele too gay xmas episodes off every shit program lol

 

Jay u a bit more sober today. Got a very interesting conversation on my pc, most of it is illegible LOL!!!

 

Was the alternator in the end. New one gives out best part of 14 volts, reguardless of the dash light being connected or not.

 

Im speechless in that case?

Unless on newer alternators they build something in to take the place of the bulb, the obvious down side before being if the bulb ever went in the clocks the alternator wouldnt charge

Well done to you though

 

connect the dash light up fella you will then be able to see whats going on when your driving! i hope you ve connected the oil pressure light up !


gary

 

In theory.......but i myself have yet to see an alternator light that has come on before the car has cut out and you dont know why you have a flat battery

DEFINATELY connect that oil light up if you havent already

 

aye, all dash lights are in now just incase

 

good stuff! glad youve sorted it

 

Did you test the charging voltage before or after you connected the battery light just wondering?