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PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 7:32 pm 
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Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:39 pm
Posts: 24
Location: Wiltshire
Car Model: ST205
I have an issue with the cars charging system that I can not figure out. The fault is described below.

Alternator one, the car charges for 10 - 15 minuites and then the battery, cat temperature and bulb out light come on and there is no charge at the battery

Alternator two, the car charges at 14v for 10 - 15 minuites and then the battery, cat temperature and bulb out light come on and there is no charge at the battery

Alternator three, the car charges for 10 - 15 minuites but never getting above 11.63 volts unless revs imcreased and then the battery, cat temperature and bulb out light come on and there is no charge at the battery.

Could anyone give me an idea as this is quite anoying although I can quickly swap an alternator out now

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 9:06 pm 
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Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:13 pm
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Location: Bournemouth
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It's not uncommon that the eyelet which goes on the altenator corrodes and forms a high resistance joint which then gets hot and accellerates the corrosion. This happens either between wire & eyelet or eyelet and stud - often both. Just cleaning the eyelt surface with emery may not do the job.

Try measuring the voktage between the alternator body (-) and the big main lug at the back of the alternator (measuring on the stud itself, not the eyelet), and keep measuring until the charge stops.

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 9:50 pm 
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Location: Wiltshire
Car Model: ST205
Hi nibbles thanks for the advice what sort of voltage should I be seeing from the body to the stud?

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:35 pm 
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Location: Bournemouth
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usually low 14's

ALso worth looking at the voltage drop from alternator terminal to battery +. This would indicate a bad connection.

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:20 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:14 am
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Location: Camberley, Surrey
Car Model: ST205
Seems like the time of year for it - just had to replace a failed alternator on my ST205.

Just been out for about a hour and all good so hopefully fixed.

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:43 pm 
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Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:39 pm
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Location: Wiltshire
Car Model: ST205
To be fair I brought the car as abit of an unknown it would not start originally which turned out to be the ECU and required a new capacitor and track repair. I find it hard to believe the 3 spare alternators I have are all duff although they could be now if the cars eaten them :lol:

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 6:04 pm 
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Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:39 pm
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Location: Wiltshire
Car Model: ST205
Well the alternators have been my little project over the last few days. I built a test rig in the garage and spun the alternators with a drill. The results were as expected really one alternator worked (after the terminal was cleaned and new nut used) the other 3 were dead.
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The working alternator is now on the car I cleaned all the connections on the car and while I was at it I cleaned all the cars earth points. I now have a charge voltage of around 14.4v and a drop of 0.2v between alternator and battery. Which leads me to the subject of what to do with the other alternators. I have so far stripped them and checked the diodes and brushes which all appear to be okay so I have decided to buy a regulator and see if they can be rebuilt I hate the throw away culture and like to be able to repair things.
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:30 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:06 am
Posts: 4743
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Car Model: ST205
Woosh wrote:
I have so far stripped them and checked the diodes and brushes which all appear to be okay so I have decided to buy a regulator and see if they can be rebuilt I hate the throw away culture and like to be able to repair things.
Good to see someone have a go at repairing stuff :) Bit of a dying art these days :| Let us know how you get on.

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PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2015 8:51 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:39 pm
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Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: ST205
This is where I bought the bits for mine. http://www.jcrsupplies.co.uk/products/ALTERNATOR_REBUILD_PARTS

Worked a treat and very fast delivery.

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PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:38 pm 
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Good info ;-)

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