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Alternator query ?

scootlife

scootlife

Accelerating Away
May sound a daft question, but if the red light on dash panel on my series 2 doesnt light up with ignition switched on ( but not running) would that suggest a dead alternator ? Also would there be any reason for the red light to suddenly not work with a wire being knocked off somewhere ? Been out playing today in icy water !! and now not charging but am thinking may have lost a connection somewhere as ignition was lost also at one point via 1 wire coming off coil. Is there a way to test alternator other than on battery terminals ? Cheers Rob
 
Hmm had some gip with my alternator not charging as the 'exciter' wire had not been connected (in a long time apparantly). Will be a 12v supply when your ignition is switched on back to one of the smaller terminals on your alternator.

Take a look for a cable dangling about not connected to anything!

Only other way i can think of testing an alternator is to take it to a garage where they have a test bench.. not much help i know :) But should only charge a few quid to test it for you!
 
Theres a few wires dangling about doing nothing !!! thats the trouble when you have a 48 year old vehicle !! Hoping to have a look in the light for anything prominent, but it all seemed to happen quite sudden, In fact it was on the drive back that the ignition wire seemed to come off the coil. It was driving ok, but wouldnt re start after stopping. Fuel guage stopped working, but restarted after cleaning some contacts on fusebox... Normally you would get some warning with alternator light coming on , but ive not had any of that. it was only when ignition wire was refitted that it stopped !!!
 
Get hold of a multi meter volt meter and test the out put of the battery with the engine off. Then start her up and test the battery output again with the engine running. If the alternator is kicking out power as it shouls, you shouls get a higer reading. Try getting a helper to raise the engine revs a bit. If no change in voltage you may have a dead alternator or a dodgy connection. If you are very carefull you can test the contacts at th eback of the alternator for a voltage output when the engine is running. As I say probably not to be recomended, a god way to loose a finger or two.
 
Been told bad things can happen when your running an alternator without the connections? Anyhow.. You should have a cable from the alternator to the battery. It will probably earth through the body,. and have a smaller guage wire with a 12v supply to the alternator when the ignition is switched on..

If you do not have these connections its not going to be working!

Edit: Just noticed your not getting a light on the dash? Could it be that the circuit has broken down here? Anyone?
 
Satancom said:
Been told bad things can happen when your running an alternator without the connections? Anyhow.. You should have a cable from the alternator to the battery. It will probably earth through the body,. and have a smaller guage wire with a 12v supply to the alternator when the ignition is switched on..

If you do not have these connections its not going to be working!

Edit: Just noticed your not getting a light on the dash? Could it be that the circuit has broken down here? Anyone?
Click to expand...

You dont take off the wires from the alternator when you test it, just leave them on, its just to get a reading direct from the alternator itself.

I have heard a few stories of running engines without batteries connected!
 
All sorted now. I took off the smaller wire on alternator and earthed it to the body and the red dash light came on, confirming that alterantor is dud. Changed it over and all ok now charging at 13.9V.
My concern was ,as there was only a 12v reading on battery terminals when running , was that a wire may have been knocked off somewhere and didnt want to buy another alternator without really needing one. Normally i would assume its the alternator, but seeing as the ignition wire had come off the coil 2mins earlier I was thinking another wire may have worked loose somewhere.
thanks for all the info though
 
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