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Alternator/battery question

  • 07-04-2010 10:22pm
    #1
    Max_Damage
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭


    I'm having a bit of an issue with the alternator/battery on the mk3. Sometimes the no charge battery light comes on in the dash when the engine is running, and then goes out. Also the battery will start the car no bother, and then the next time you start the car, it's dead. Do you reckon the alt is fecked, or is it both that are gone?


Comments

  • #2
    carchaeologist
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,318 ✭✭✭✭carchaeologist


    Possibly knackered alternator alright,or alternator dying. Could be a loose connection somewhere too.
    How old is the battery?


  • #3
    Fishtits
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,382 ✭✭✭Fishtits


    Sorry for my ignorance/lazyness but a Mk3 what?


  • #4
    Max_Damage
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭Max_Damage


    It's an '82 Ford Escort mk3, as it says in my sig ;) As for the battery, no idea how old it is.


  • #5
    hi5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,107 ✭✭✭hi5


    Sounds like a loose or dirty terminal from the battery or earths.


  • #6
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    My alt died last month I had to replace it.

    Would charge for a few mins and then would get no charge till I next started up. Sounds like yours might be on it's way out. I think you can check what it's putting out by putting a multimeter over the battery with the engine running? Should be 14V or something?

    The alt belt isn't loose or glazed is it?


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  • #7
    Max_Damage
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭Max_Damage


    The belt isn't loose, and I doubt it's loose connections as when I took it for a test drive last night, the light gradually went on after a while. If the wires were loose, it would be flickering on and off. It would be no harm to get a new alt anyway. The original ones were rubbish anyway.


  • #8
    nmacc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 459 ✭✭nmacc


    I'm a little out of practice on these (to say the least), but if I've got the model correct, then the original Lucas alternators really were crap. However they had the redeeming feature that all of the unreliable bits were cheap, readily available and easily replaceable.

    My guess would be worn brushes or slip rings. It should not be that big a deal to get it rebuilt and if you do buy a new one, don't chuck the old one; there are still folks out there who can rebuild them.


  • #9
    Max_Damage
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭Max_Damage


    The original alt were crap alright. They used to overcharge the battery and cause them to leak the acid. It would be best to get a new spurious alt.


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