my 2.1 zvh festa keeps eating alts! Its had 3 in one year! Any one had a fault like this befor? Alt warning light goes out when started..... Just not charging! Battery voltage to back of alt and thats it! Iv never know a car wreck so much stuff lol. Any ideas would be good.
Josh RS

 

Heat? Heat is an alternators enemy and I imagine with that kind of engine in that car things are very cramped. It's on the same side as the turbo IIRC? Make sure there it isn't getting cooked. Another possibility is the load, if it's running near it's maximum output all the time it will shorten the life, do you have big sound system etc?

Martin

 

well, there's more than enough room around the alt to keep it cool, i even put a cold air feed from under the o/s wheel arch to keep the place cool lol. It's on a t3 turbo so everything is pointing away from the alt. My sound system isnt anything to cry home about too. It just baffles me, one minute its good to go and the next another alt bites the dust lol.

 

well, there's more than enough room around the alt to keep it cool, i even put a cold air feed from under the o/s wheel arch to keep the place cool lol. It's on a t3 turbo so everything is pointing away from the alt. My sound system isnt anything to cry home about too. It just baffles me, one minute its good to go and the next another alt bites the dust lol.

 

had this problem .fit new alternator it be grand for a few days next thing flickering light then it be fucked.i went through 8 alternators.eventually found that the plug on connection onto back of alternator had 2 spade connectors built into it one of these was very loose and was obviously making a bad connection .gave it a squeeze with pliers and perfect after dat .hope this helps

 

i wish it could help but iv already done away with the plug and put new terminals on, i guess its just one of those things lol

 

What make alternators you been using?

 

Try fitting a bigger higher capacity alternator? Would that work? like you can fit a diesel battery to a petrol?

 

Is the belt tight enough ?

 

all bosch units and yep belts
tight, its a 70 amp alt wich is more than enough imo. I think im just gunna put it down to the fucked up roads and all the shit on them! Lol.

 

everybody else gets on ok though? How is the earth on the engine to body?