Guest Mk4 Rustbucket Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Hi,battery was not charging so bought a brand new alternator,once fitted it seemed to be charging but at night with the lights and heater on the battery light was just faintly glowing,the mullti meter says it's chucking just over 13v with just the engine running but with the lights and heater on it's only showing 12.5 so don't think it's charging as it should.Now for the stupid bit........I had an alternator of an austin metro in the shed that is the same shape + same connections on the back so I thought I'd stick it on and see what happened and all that happened was a flash off the battery terminal when i attemped to connect it back up and now I have no battery light and no attempt is being to charge the battery!!. Still have power at the alternator plug but no battery light,any ideas? The only difference between the escort and metro alternators that I could see was on the back of the metro alternator there is a wire going from a little plastic box off one of the bolts on the back to a spade connection a bit further over but still on the back. Someone please help!!! Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mk4 Rustbucket Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 it sounded as if battery was knackered before and it sounds as if you blown the batt now so i would try the new escort alternater with a new battery and see how you go No,nowt up with the battery as it still starts fine.On further investigation i've now found that the metro alternator is doing about the same as the new escort 1 did if not a touch better which is 13.5 - 13.8 with engine just running but still around 13 with lights + heater on but I can't see if the battery light is still faintly glowing at night as it instantly blew when I connected the battery back up after fitting the metro alternator!, so i'm at a bit of a loss where to go with it now as electrics are not my strong point!!! Still think it should be charging better than it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sjc Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 (edited) Battery Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 volt lead-acid, 35 to 52 Ah depending on model Charge condition: Poor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.4 volts or less Normal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.6 volts Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.7 volts or over Alternator Minimum brush length: Bosch, Lucas and Mitsubishi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 mm Motorola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.0 mm Regulator voltage at 4000 rpm with 3 to 7A load (all models) . . . . . . . . 13.7 to 14.6 volts Is is a maintenance free battery?? although it does sound like your still not getting enought out of the alternator. Does the warning bulb work in ignition positon 2? Do the handbrake and oil pressure warning bulbs work? Edited January 3, 2008 by sjc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mk4 Rustbucket Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 BatteryType . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 volt lead-acid, 35 to 52 Ah depending on model Charge condition: Poor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.4 volts or less Normal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.6 volts Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.7 volts or over Alternator Minimum brush length: Bosch, Lucas and Mitsubishi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 mm Motorola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.0 mm Regulator voltage at 4000 rpm with 3 to 7A load (all models) . . . . . . . . 13.7 to 14.6 volts Is is a maintenance free battery?? although it does sound like your still not getting enought out of the alternator. Does the warning bulb work in ignition positon 2? Do the handbrake and oil pressure warning bulbs work? No it's not a maintainance free battery.Battery warning light was working untill I blew it once metro alternator was fitted,oil pressure light fine,never spotted handbrake warning light.Did Mk3's have one+if so is it the same warning light as low brake fluid as that flickers sometimes when driving Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sjc Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 confused what the question is now???? if you think you have blown the warning lights, get a set of clocks from a breakers for a few quid. If car is starting and running ok, that may be your only problem....the recon alternotor should be giving out a bit more...but if its working thought winter...its up to you if you want to take it back or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mk4 Rustbucket Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 confused what the question is now???? if you think you have blown the warning lights, get a set of clocks from a breakers for a few quid. If car is starting and running ok, that may be your only problem....the recon alternotor should be giving out a bit more...but if its working thought winter...its up to you if you want to take it back or not. Yes I see what you're saying.Thanks for your help anyway. Just get the feeling there is a problem somewhere as when I connected the battery back up after swapping alternator there was quite a big spark and small bang and since then no battery light. Reading through the forums there is alot of charging problems due to the blue wire off the alternator plug aswell,anything that can be checked there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sjc Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 (edited) battery is only for starting.....alternator for running/charging. you cant drive on a battery only, well only for a mile or so. And if its not charging you wouldnt get anywhere. Batt and oil Warning light should be on in position 2. Handrake warning on when handbrake on. If none of these work you may have blown the transister in the dials, as these 3 warning lights all sit on the collector side of it. You can pick up a set of clocks quiet easlily if they have blown. Edited January 3, 2008 by sjc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mk4 Rustbucket Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Ok thanks,will check that out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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