Hi all,

 

Just got back from 1,600 miles through France in the Felicia 

 

As I que'd  for the Ferry at Dover for the outward trip, the charging light came on with the engine at idle. The car ran and started fine all the time we were away  (although I minimised load were possible) and for the 550 mile return trip (5 up!), but the final stretch from Dover last night with the lights and wipers on  meant as we pulled on to the track behind our house the car conked out !!! 

 

 

I jump started it today and put a voltmeter on the battery.  It shows 11.9 volts at  engine off. It goes up to 13.4V as the revs rise, and stays there, but as the revs drop to idle the voltage  drips and keeps on dropping. The fan belt looks OK (and give that it has a tensioner I assume the tension's OK).

 

The voltage regular and battery were replaced 5,000 miles ago. Suggestions please?  I'm stumped. Is it simply that the alternator is knackered? It seems odd that it's putting charge in at higher revs but not lower revs.....

 

If it wasn't for the tensioner I'd think it was a loose fan belt.  (I've used search but couldn't find an answer)

 

Thanks,

Nick

I would guess the alternator windings are going; although my only similar experience was a Renault and the other way round :- it worked until about 3,000 rpm then conked out. I had to drive home keeping the engine revs as low as possible (not easy through the Cotswolds!!).

Prerequisites: 

Ribbed V belt tension O.K.
Battery O.K.

Idle rpm: 800

Wiring at alternator and earth cable between engine, body, and battery must be tight .and must not be oxidized

 

Check thoroughly all connections on alternator, battery, and earth point. Remove, clean, install.

Check integrity of cables.

Connect a voltmeter between terminal B+ of the alternator and body.

Start engine and run at about 2000 rpm.
Specified voltage: 13.5 -14.2 V

If specification not met, replace voltage regulator as a check and repeat the test above.

If now voltage is O.K. then original voltage regulator is faulty.

If voltage is still not O.K. you have a bad alternator (worn collector, bad bridge rectifier, etc)