MarineIguana Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 I have been after a higher output alternator for a while now as mine isn't doing well with all the extra electrical stuff on it now at night I can only have my lights on and no stereo as it drains the system too quick for the alternator to keep up with. So I been reading that a Granada 90amp will fit perfect but as far as I can see it is a bolt type not push on terminals so was wondering how to convert to this is it a case of just changing the connection ends on my wiring? Or does it need to be wired differently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lee81 Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 The small wire normally blue can just have the terminal changed but since the current is going to be alot higher i would route a new cable of suitable size from the battery for the main live feed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarineIguana Posted September 16, 2011 Author Share Posted September 16, 2011 Well i have already rewired the wiring to the alternator as the last one was a mess and not safe at all so I should be able to fit it hopefully then now just need to get one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dazzersrst Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 you would be better using a 1.8 turbo diesel from a escort mk4 mate and put a bigger battery on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansoutham Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 you would be better using a 1.8 turbo diesel from a escort mk4 mate and put a bigger battery on No point tbh. The MK4 diesel alternator fits the other way (same as the XR2 MK2) in that the 2 bolt holes are @ the top, the single one underneath and the adjustment is made by a toothed adjusting arm. If you wanted to go this route and use the MK2 Fiesta/Escort Diesel alternator mounting bracket, you can use the Sierra/Granada DOHC alternator from models with heated windscreens which had a 90A output, but you will need to use a slightly shorter belt and trim a small amount from the anti-roll bar mounting as it will touch when the engine comes off-load. Been there, done that with my old Orion 1.8 Diesel. IMO, your best bet would be to use a 70A alternator from an Escort with heated windscreen (bolt-on terminals), the correct loom for it (which is a simple swap) and make sure that your earth connections are good. I always run an extra 4-gauge connection from the body to the battery and from the the engine to the body/battery as most earth connections are getting old now and can reduce the power. In addition, check your voltage both @ the battery, and @ the alternator output connection itself. Any more than 0.5V drop between the 2 readings means a bad connection somewhere, normally an earth, but try cleaning the + connections as well. I would make sure that the battery is in good condition, i.e. holding a charge, water level on all cells is good with no gassing. My old Orion used to run 2 Rockford amps (50a2, and a 500a4 powering 2 DVC subs), heated windscreen, heated seats, electric windows, plus 2 130w spotlamps, 2 100w headlamps, 2 130w front fog lamps and much more and the only time I had a problem was when I started to get a resistance from the fuselink wire which was by the battery, which was corroding with age. At night in the garage with the bonnet up, it actually used to glow enough to see the outline of the engine itself. All that was on a 70A alternator. The only reason I changed to a 90A from the Sierra is because I had an almost new one sitting in the garage, so seemed a shame to buy another 70A one. As for a battery, I would run an 097 battery. Same size as the Transit diesels, and is perfect for the battery tray size. Another thing to think of is the Granada and Sierra positive terminal adapter. This is a metal plate which bolts to the positive terminal and all the wires connect to that directly, thereby giving the best possible connection, rather than running through lots of ring terminals, all of which can cause resistance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarineIguana Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share Posted September 17, 2011 Nice thanks for the info I have a positve loom from a mk5 escort with the bus bar already to fit so might change it over with a bigger battery as my charge can bearly do 12v with my headlights on and with my stereo on it goes into a discharge all the time which isn't cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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