The dreaded red light

[TheBlueTurk]

Today my battery light came on in my valver when starting (the norm) but.............. today was different the bar-steward didnt go out, not even after driving down the A127 at 70mph. Now I have been told it is the alternator and I have had a check done on the battery. The amp was 12, and falling slowly when the engine was running. Obviously this signals a dying alternator. I have just had a new starter motor put in and it has only started since that has been putin.

Now before I folk out £130 for a new one is there any checks I can do that, just to make sure it is the alternator. Like loose wires etc........... Where would I be best looking??

Any suggestions on where to get one or is £130 about the norm??

 

[BRUN]

i work for Motor World and im sure we could get you one for less than £130

ring your local one mate and see what they say, if your anywhere near the north west i can sort you out with one...

 

[BenR]

Check the negative lead from the alt to teh batt, itll be old and corroded now and they can snap easily. Look down the non pulley side of the alt nxt to the rad and its a black cable thats bolted onto a terminal, if its not connected at all then thats your problem, give it a clean and it COULD possibnly solve it, its happened before.

 

[TheBlueTurk]

Nice one mate I shall check that one out.......... now!!

 

[TheBlueTurk]

Juggled the wires a bit and drive and it went out for a littlw while but came back on. I have noticed it flickers when i accelerate quickly could this mean something loose inside the moves when the engine moves??

 

[iPap]

Dodgy diode pack?

 

[TheBlueTurk]

does that mean a new alternator?? or is there another way of fixing?

 

[TheBlueTurk]

amy more ideas? Fiddled around with a few of the wires and the light didnt come on while driving to the Misses house, left it parked up for a day and a bit, went to start it tonight.......... flat battery!!

jump started it, first time drove it all the way home and no site of a red light any where??

A friend said he had the same probs with his escort, got a new alternator but still had the same prob. He found out to wires had fuses together which was flattening his battery. Could this be the same for me or does it defo sound like a dead alternator?

 

[Alex M]

brushes are shot mate, either get a new alternator, or find someone who will install new brushes into it, specialist, will cost you 20-30 squid, but better than new aternator price