Charging Problem
 

Hi, wondering if anyone could help. My saff has stopped charging and and the rev counter, stereo and all warning lights stopped working. The heater lights and wipers all work fine.
I have checked all the fuses and relays OK.
Checked the battery and tried another known good OK.
Tried 2 other knwn good alternators OK.
Tested the continuity of the battery-Alternator wir OK.
Checked all the earths I could think of OK.

I was wondering if the little blue wire from the alternator acts as an exciter? Because thats All I can think of left.

If someone comes up with a solution and the car makes it to trax this sunday then you can have a beer on me.

yeah its the exciter.

this wire musy be in perfect condtion right back to the warning light on the dash :top:

have you checked the connector on the back of the clocks ?

(although I can't think that this has stopped the stereo from working)

Cool, will check both the wire and connection in a bit, just popped home to get the 3door and compare what feeds are going where (if they are the same).

Does anybody know exactly how exciter works? eg where the feed comes from.

Have got plenty of wiring diagrams but nothing on the charging system.

A blown bulb wil stop,it charging if it is the battery light bulb.
It uses the LIVE supplied through the bulb(via ignition switch) to EXCITE FIELD WINDINGS, so no bulb or circuit here no charge simple as.
The easy way arouind it is to just put a LIVE feed onto the stud on the back of the alternator onto which this wire plugs, it will then start charging if ok, (with engine running of course), it will continue to charge until the engine is stopped, then won't start again until it sees a live here.
The reason the DASH light(battery warning) goes OUT is because when the alternator starts to charge it turns the terminal for the light blue wire LIVE and TWO lives do not make a bulb work.
tabetha

Well tabetha, looks like you may be the proud owner of a nice beer on Sunday, just before reading this thread we had got as for as figuring out the lack of live through that exciter was our problem by comparing with my other one. Bulb is good. Instrument panel is good. So leaves wiring.
Just noticed the brakelights stay on with ignition aswell (a non related issue) Stupid car

That would be nice, except I am not allowed to drink!!
Do a continuity check on the wire between bulb holder and alternator terminal.
tabetha

That wire is all good. Found there is a live (black/yellow) to the dash missing. Suspect a relay but unfortunatly the 3door and saph have a few different to each other so we cant just swap and change :(

Is it just alcohol or all liquids that you cant drink? Could get you a burger but I wouldnt force my worst enemy to eat a silverstone salmonella feast.

Right, sorry to be a pain but does anyone know where the black+yellow wire comes from and if it is switched by a relay?
This is really starting to annoy me now.....
Does anyone have a decent wiring diagrams?

Please disregard the stereo not working on my first post, just sorted that and it was unrelated.

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