Alternator?

Post 327488 by GreyWing on 2010-08-23 17:21:21

Hi Guys, Got a c70 x reg t5 Been having a flat battery for a few days and then power is a little low and car not perky or at it's best. Then today the battery light came on the dashboard. So got the volt meter on it and it was like it was surging about 1/2 second cycles. The light on the dashboard was surging at the same cycles. So changed the battery with a spare on I had and ruled that out as the problem. It has been said it could be a clutch pulley belt issue or alternator issue. Before I send to get fixed i was just wondering if anyone on here knew of it as a common fault and if there was a more simpler fix available. All the best Graeme

Post 327490 by scooter on 2010-08-23 17:33:43

use you volt meter on the battery it will read 11-12 volts give or take start car read battery again it should read 14 volts roughly when running if not it is the alternator

Post 327494 by scooter on 2010-08-23 17:45:08

maybe you belt is lose

Post 327496 by cookie on 2010-08-23 18:04:39

Belt has spring tensioner (pulley on a little sprung arm thingy), battery should read 12.6 with engine off, and about 14.4 at Idle, if voltage doesn't go up its alternator, it could be a siezed bearing in alternator. Alternators do fail, and once you have sussed how to get it out its a doddle (until you have sussed its a right PITA) check belt tension by pushing it, and well worth just releasing tensioner (note route of belt) whip it off, and check alternator or Power steering pump (or even pulley tensioner) haven't siezed,

Post 327509 by GreyWing on 2010-08-23 18:45:25

Cheers guys, will give those a try and update as soon as I find out what it is.

Post 327514 by castellsmith123 on 2010-08-23 18:56:48

12.6 volt's is a battery @ 75% charge,12.9 is 100% charge! An altenator charge rate for most car's is 13.9 to 14.4 volt's! If it is charging at over 14.4 volt's ,this is classed as over charging and will kill your battery!

Post 327521 by GreyWing on 2010-08-23 19:43:29

Just tested it when running and the readings were all over the place, it was jumping from 10 to 11.5 to 18.5 to 0.9. Just before I start taking these things off and having things fixed etc, is it a big job to take the alternator and clutch pulley off? I have been quoted £80 and £85 for each to be reconditoned. But if it going to take a fair bit to take it off and things like that then going to just look at a new car, in doing so where is the best place to buy a new T5, do we have a section on here of cars for sale. Cheers Graeme

Post 327541 by SAMXPJ on 2010-08-23 21:20:36

You are a long way from needing another car! first of all try to free things up on the pulley with wd40 if no joy then take the alternator off and see if that is free moving if so then check the output - if you need help then where are you located so that a member can assist. Don't start paying someone £80 to mend the alternator when you can buy a good second hand one for £40 max!

Post 327542 by GreyWing on 2010-08-23 21:29:51

Cheers for that mate, it's a good point and didn't know that the prices were about that. Glad I came here for help first. I live in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. I got the car for £1800 about a year ago and it is fantastic but just had some issues recently. Such as the ABS light coming on and spending time and cash finding and fixing that before changing everything on the car and ending up just taking the bulb out for the MOT. But managed to get it through last week after buying even more stuff for it. Not short of cash but just don't want to keep putting it into a car that only cost £1800. The car is fantastic I wouldn't be able to get anything similar performance wise for anything near that. If there is someone you guys would recommend near here it would be a great outcome. Cheers Graeme

Post 327589 by SAMXPJ on 2010-08-24 02:22:10

Have you had the code read for the abs?

Post 327617 by GreyWing on 2010-08-24 11:30:13

[quote=SAMXPJ;327589]Have you had the code read for the abs?[/quote] Yes mate, it came up as n/s/f sensor, so changed it. Then did some more research on forums and because it was coming up with engine management lights (speedo cable), reading other people's experiences pointed me towards the module so changed that. That got rid of the management light but left the abs light. Took it back down and just said wheel sensor but now not showing which one. Thing is the abs still works, but just showing the light which is bizarre. So just took the bulb out for the MOT and it went through.

Post 327622 by SAMXPJ on 2010-08-24 12:11:05

I reckon the first thing is to get this charging voltage stable before going further with the abs light as that might be upsetting other electronic settings. Is your alternator 80 or 100amp as I have a spare 80amp you are welcome to that came off my previous t5.