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charging problem
http://www.gt4dc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4431		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  jameswilco [ Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:58 am ]
Post subject:  charging problem
hi folks, ive got abit of a problem with my 185. everything was fine as i pulled up at my house, went in for 10min came back out and when i fired up the 4 the battery light, warning light and low oil level light was on and it was only putting in 11.2V on idle. i had to go somewere and it was night so had my lights on and as i drove it would hold a constant 11V until i stopped at lights etc where it would creep to 11.2V again, does this just sound like a alternator regulator fault or something more in depth to you?

thanks in advance, james
Author:  DeeCee [ Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:17 am ]
Post subject: 
check the battery
Author:  Nibbles [ Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:38 am ]
Post subject: 
Sounds like an alternator or wiring problem.

I'm puzzled by the low oil light coming on as well. Also what is the 'warning light' you list.
Could be a minor fuse blown which feeds the alternator control / field part which may account for the other lights.
If you have a multimeter, get the engine running and check for volts between engine and battery neg. Also check the voltage between alternator body and the big output terminal on the back of the alternator (see pic below).

Another prime candidate is a bad connection on the crimp terminal on the back of the alternator, I've seen a couple like this now. Check for signs of overheating (melted wire sleeve) and corrosion. I would, however, expect this to have gone progressively and just give poor/intermittant charging.

Give an exact list of warning bulbs on, and bulbs / equipment that don't work and I can trawl the circuits and see if I can see a scenaro which would cause it.

Image
Author:  jameswilco [ Tue Jan 11, 2011 12:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
thanks for the replys, the car is at home at the moment and im at work so cant check anything yet, i dont think its the battery as it has always been brilliant even in the weather we have been having its been firing up straight away, and i only left the car for 10min and it started fine it wasnt lazy and with the engine and lights off it was still holding just over 12V after a 5mile drive with the headlights and blower on. the warning light is a ! (exsclamation mark) in a circle, with the battery voltage light on and the low oil level warning light i thought was strange aswell. im taking my booster, multimeter and a few tools home with me tonight to have a little poke around. from what i saw all off the equipment was working fine, just my lights where a little bit dimmer due to the low volts. and the big main wire seemed ok and the plug was all nicely greased and un corroded but i only had a quick look and it was dark so couldnt do much

i just thought it could be the alternator not regulating the voltage propaly as it was sat at 11V all the way home with me turning various bits and bobs on and off to see if it made a differance


on another note does anyone know if a 205 alternator or any other are the same as the 185, i might be able to get one cheap enough to try it out.

thanks
Author:  Nibbles [ Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
The 205 is mechanically the same, however the plugs are different. If you get the plug with the alternator, you can cut the original plug off & join the wires (I've done it) and they are compatible.

Obviously would be easier/better to stick with a 185 alternator
Author:  two_OH_five [ Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
start the car then disconnect the battery

Then measure the volts across the battery connections on the loom This might showa problem.
If it reads fine try switching on main beams and see what it does

It's not unheard of for batteries to drop a cell almost instantly when a lump of plate falls off and shorts it out
Author:  jameswilco [ Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
thank you for all the help guys, i will have a tinker tonight and post back if i find the problem

thanks again
Author:  Sunny [ Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hi,

check the battery connectors especially minus -> disconnect and clear them

the problem is often corrosion


greetz
Author:  jameswilco [ Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:09 am ]
Post subject: 
hi, i did abit of looking last night and everyhting seemed fine apart from the alternator, the output was only 11V. i charged my battery for a couple of hours, checked the voltage last night and this morning and it hadnt even dropped it was spot on. all connections, earths etc all looked good no corrosion or anything loose. so i still think its the alternator and another thing to back that up is i realised there was part of the alternator cooling system missing so it may have been getting hotter than usual
Author:  DeeCee [ Wed Jan 12, 2011 11:40 am ]
Post subject: 
part of cooling system wouldn't matter. Def sounds like alternator, so time to get another one or that one reconditioned.
Author:  Nibbles [ Wed Jan 12, 2011 11:53 am ]
Post subject: 
Re-connect the battery charger and measure battery voltage while charging, should be up about 14V.
Steve made a valid point, that 1 cell can go short circuit while other cells are fine leaving you a perfect battery except 2V lower. Not the usual failure mode for a battery and I've never experienced it (but then I use mostly gell versions) although I have heard of it.

A lot of people run without the alternator snorkel, but if you have a big ICE install or something else drawing a lot of power it may be enough to tip it over the edge.

Alternator is the most likely IMO.
Author:  jameswilco [ Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
i think its the alternator aswel and i have ordered another one, i think what was said in the last post sounds about right, i havent got a big ice system but i do have a little sub that draws alot, and with it been winter ive been driving with lights, rear window heater and blowers on and at idle it was dropping to about 12.4V and as soon as i touched the revs it jumped back upto 13+ so i think it was starting to struggle and then decided it was having no more when i started it back up that time.

thanks for all the help aswell, hopefully a new alternator will sort it and if not no doubt i will be in touch again :D
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