Hey guys, car just had a rebuild and since coming back is not charging battery. I loaned car to my dad who had a auto elecy at car and said wire was on wrong or something, but I had put it on usual posts, he re done it and it charged no problem and know alternator is ok. Charged before rebuild But since rebuild has not charged again as they have put it on same posts I did. Any ideas to what he changed? As I cant afford to get him out again right now and charging and changing batteries is doing my head in and help with pictures if possible would be great!! CHEERS

 

First thing to check is the battery light wire - i had a similar problem on mine last week which i resolved.

When you turn the iginition on does the battery light come on ? If not this is probably your problem but if it does its probably still worth checking.

The blue wire is the one you need to be looking at - the wire is quite thin and it is a regular problem with S2's and is an essential part of the wiring loop as this wire also activates the windings in the alternator which essentially creates charge.

It is usually a "Push on" connection on the alternator and the wire does perish inside the black connector and even in the blue sheath.

This gets affected by heat from the manifold/exhaust/turbo given how close the alternator is to the exhaust/turbo etc and over a long period of time cause the wire to perish.

Check out a thread i started with some good advice on it.

https://passionford.com/forum/techni...or-wiring.html

 

hi mate I thought this may have been problem aswell but I took the push on end of and put a ring connector on and bolted it onto post so I know it fully contacted. Thanks for reply though

 

That was the thread I answered, if the battery light is on then this is not your problem. In any case revving to around 4K will start the charge process as well.

Check the engine earth strap is ok as I assume you mean engine rebuild? Does the battery light go out with engine running, if so this shows it to be charging and so there must be a break between the heavy gauge wire from the B terminal which to battery.

What power are you getting at the battery?

Martin

 

hi mate yeah battery charge light ok it comes on and off with ignition all good where is the engine earth wire situated? I will get a reading tomorrow and let you knwo thanks for info

 

Will be on the engine itself low down though best off from looking underneath probably, check the batt to alt cable connection at battery as well.

Martin

 

no probs i will have a look tomoz, everything looks fine, wires go to starter could any of these be prob?

 

I believe on RST the cable goes to starter then to batt so yes check the connections there as well.

Martin

 

It's not the earth wire, as it is working the starter ok, as said the B+ is the battery output from the alternator, check around the battery carefully as ford had the smart idea of running LIVE wires within a black sheathing and sometimes the wire is a bit short inside the sheathing and people don't notice it is a red wire inside the black sheathing and so put it on the wrong terminal.
You need to measure the actual voltage at rest and when running, could even then temporarily run a wire from the B+ to the battery pos and see if it then reads a charge if it doesn't the alt is knackered, even though the light goes out.
tabetha