Fault finding on battery/alternator

[GhostWKD]

Right ok i know very little about wiring etc, only really what wire goes where etc recently i have been having the battery warning light coming on at first startup and for the first bit of my drive but about min or two into the drive it'll go out, but then today it stayed on all the way home from work (about 10 miles or so) even revved quite hard wouldnt go out, nothing else indicating any problem only the warning light...

So i pulled out the voltmeter thingy, plan was to check voltage of batt and then again with the car running, but no such luck, got it onto the battery and sparks were flying and smoke coming up (at this point decided probably best to give up on that way of testing...)

Anyone got any ideas of what i can try as a way of checking battery and or alternator, battery is really new mind oh and final thing is the warning light goes out when you start the car (on at first turn of ignition) and then comes back fading into half brightness (dont think its ever been over half brightness mind)

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[arseofbox]

Anyone got any ideas of what i can try as a way of checking battery and or alternator, battery is really new mind oh and final thing is the warning light goes out when you start the car (on at first turn of ignition) and then comes back fading into half brightness (dont think its ever been over half brightness mind)

Anyone got any ideas?

Do the headlights get brighter if you push the accelerator?

My 1242 did exactly the same when the alternator was knackered!

 

[custard]

also i had a similar symptom when the wire from the battery to the alternator was breaking away behind the ring connector.not really obvious till i removed the alternator.
worn engine mounts will allow more movement hence the intermittant flickering

 

[Hellcat]

:yeahthat:

Chech the physical connection befween to the altenator first. Take it off, grease it with electolytic grease and replace. See if that cures it.

If it doesn't then look at replacing the brushes/diode pack on the altenator.

 

[GhostWKD]

Car behaves as normal no faded lights etc, only difference is this warning light

Arch liner i've tried to have out before to no luck as the hormann arches seem to be holding it in, might be an arches off job

 

[dazzdog]

Check your earth's and wiring to the alternator. It sounds like an alternator fault to me.

 

[GhostWKD]

could it be the connectors on battery coming slightly loose? just now noticed they looked a bit loose but wasnt sure if that could affect it

 

[dazzdog]

Depends on how loose they were really, if i were you i would go and get my charging checked out.

 

[Hellcat]

Don't try to overtighten the battery clamps - They can snap. They shouldn't be able to be pulled off though. Are they greased?

 

[GhostWKD]

Dont think they can be pulled off, just not on fully, kinda 1/4 the way up the terminal, and dont think they're greased at min

 

[Hellcat]

Doesn't sound like the battery contacts. Get that altenator checked.

 

[Citizen Smith]

with the engine idling, check the voltage across the battery - should be 14 volts or more if not and connections are good then it looks like alternator is shot.

 

[GhostWKD]

Bit wary about checking the voltage across battery as when i tried earlier big sparks and smoke

tried the terminals on batt no difference so its probably the alternator, more than likely the wiring as it was probably stretched when spring snapped

going to investigate tomorrow

 

[Liam]

Sorry to hear this Alex, could you post pics of the arches and liner please? There must be away to get it out as it being a Cinq it is essential this is moveable.

Smoke and sparks ain't too good, maybe the alternator is firing too much out and the regulator is toast.

Liam

 

[GhostWKD]

Smoke and sparks was with the engine switched off, im going to keep a very close eye on the problem and put it off till the weekend (or possibly tomorrow - depending if i want to crawl under cinq just after 2 fillings )

Might go halfords and catch up with old mate of mine get him to check it for me

 

[arc]

was the smoke from volt meter yeah?

you had it set to measure voltage, but had the leads plugged in to measure voltage. you shorted the battery through the volt meter, hence toasting it!

 

[GhostWKD]

nope, smoke was from the two end connectors iirc

 

[GhostWKD]

And our servey says... ding ding, overcharging lol

 

[custard]

these yellow turbo cinqs really are money pits lol

 

[GhostWKD]

You telling me i've just forked out on a load of "un-neccecary" bits as well as needing bushes and springs etc will look good though