felixx Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Hi guys. My alternator light came on while I was driving home today. It stays on at low - med revs Voltage whilst engine running 12.4 V Voltage whilst engine off 12.4 V How do i test it? Remember I am a numpty noob so will need easy steps Alternator has done 40000 miles Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Simple check - turn the headlights on in the dark and shine them against the wall let engine idle for a couple minutes - then bring the engine revs up to 3000ish - if the lights get brighter then the alternator is doing something. However I would say 12.4V is just the bare minimum surface charge and its not charging - check the charge rate with the headlights on. (not much else electrical on an Anglia is there? LOL) If it is below 12V then you definitely have a problem. An alternator rebuild on one of these would be stuff all.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixx Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 cheers mate, I will try it when it gets dark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixx Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 OK So I fired her up, lights on, idle fr 5 min. Give it some herbs, lights dont get brighter. Alt light stays on until about 4KRPM (I am guessing RPM) Anyhring else I can test/ check before I take it out? Last week the alternator light flickered a few times on a drive, I wiggled the wires and it seemed to go away. Until today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowzer Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Aside from the main battery wire, you should have 2 or 3 others. One goes to the alt light, the other is the power/sense wire for the regulator. If it's a 3 wire job, then there's one from ignition to turn the reg on and the other is the sense, usually permanent power on. Check to see if there's power getting to these wires, coz if not the voltage reg will be doing fuck all. If power is getting to them, then the reg is probably stuffed or (more likely) the bushes are worn out. I'd be quite surprised if the bushes were gone after 40,000miles though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixx Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 OK I will drop it at my sparkie I dont understand electrons at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixx Posted March 31, 2012 Author Share Posted March 31, 2012 Gave all the terminal connections a gentle squeeze with pliers Slid them all back on Happy Days *fingers crossed* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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