Alternator Earthing Issues

[allblue]

Hi all,

 

When I started my car up the battery light did not come on. Checked bulb itself, circut board behind instrumrent cluster and tested the alternator to starter motor wires for continuity. All these ok.

 

One thing I did notice was my alternator mounting bracket that had been refurb'd and repainted, was not conducting electricity. The coating is not ordinary paint and is very tough. I couldn't get a positive continuity reading fron it. Therefore it appears the alternator cannot earth to the engine and chassis.

 

Could this earthing issue explain why the battery light does not come on with the ignition switched on? Will I need to earth the alternator to the chassis to make the bulb work?

 

I even tried an old alternator by connecting up the the red and blue wire to it, but leaving the alternator on the floor (i.e. not connected to the car or to any earth on the car). But again the battery light did not come on.

[Paul]

I had the exact same issue mate when I had mine powder coated all I did was get a earth strap from halfords and connect from one of the mounting nuts on the bracket to a good earth on the body work :-) light came on and all good

[allblue]

Thanks Paul, you're a star

[Paul]

No problems had me scratching my head for a hour or so lol

[allblue]

Now I've just got the 'fun' of putting the alternator back in!

 

And I thought re-bleeding the brakes last weekend was bad enough!

 

The joys of resto projects