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How do you test an Alternator?

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Old 23-12-2005, 12:42 PM
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kossie
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Default How do you test an Alternator?

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).
Old 23-12-2005, 12:45 PM
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Robin
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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
Old 23-12-2005, 12:56 PM
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Tony Turbo
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I find the easiest way to test an alternator is give it some form of written exam
Old 23-12-2005, 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Tony Turbo
I find the easiest way to test an alternator is give it some form of written exam
Old 23-12-2005, 12:59 PM
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kossie
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Old 23-12-2005, 01:04 PM
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Tony Turbo
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Sorry, I'm bored

I think I might have to blow some stuff up in my garden
Old 23-12-2005, 01:06 PM
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ballin
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that KA must look insane on escos rims!!! got any more pics?
Old 23-12-2005, 01:08 PM
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mad ferret
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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.
Old 23-12-2005, 02:09 PM
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kossie
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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.
Old 23-12-2005, 02:25 PM
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addiction
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thats not enough to charge the battery dude!! get the battery checked out as well!!!
Old 23-12-2005, 02:28 PM
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Battery was checked recently, thats fine Now to find an Alternator this close close to christmas!
Old 23-12-2005, 06:12 PM
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yep that alternator aint gona charge shite at that rate!
Old 23-12-2005, 07:06 PM
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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.....
Old 23-12-2005, 08:05 PM
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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!
Old 23-12-2005, 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by safechav
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.....
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!
Old 23-12-2005, 10:32 PM
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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
Old 23-12-2005, 10:35 PM
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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
Old 23-12-2005, 10:50 PM
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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!!!!!!!!
Old 23-12-2005, 10:51 PM
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rs tommy:
Old 24-12-2005, 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by safechav
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.....
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 !
Old 24-12-2005, 05:23 PM
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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
Old 24-12-2005, 05:29 PM
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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
Old 24-12-2005, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by rs tommy
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
Old 25-12-2005, 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Tony Turbo
Sorry, I'm bored

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

same ere lol ba humbug soooooooo poooo on tele too gay xmas episodes off every shit program lol
Old 25-12-2005, 02:44 PM
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Jay u a bit more sober today. Got a very interesting conversation on my pc, most of it is illegible LOL!!!
Old 28-12-2005, 11:23 AM
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kossie
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Was the alternator in the end. New one gives out best part of 14 volts, reguardless of the dash light being connected or not.
Old 28-12-2005, 01:47 PM
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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
Old 28-12-2005, 03:34 PM
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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
Old 28-12-2005, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by GaryHurn
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
Old 28-12-2005, 03:42 PM
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aye, all dash lights are in now just incase
Old 28-12-2005, 03:51 PM
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good stuff! glad youve sorted it
Old 28-12-2005, 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by kossie
aye, all dash lights are in now just incase
Did you test the charging voltage before or after you connected the battery light just wondering?
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