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Thread: Not charging

  1. #1
    Piers1989's Avatar

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    Not charging

    So my car is finally rebuilt after the drive train refurb, new alternator fitted as it initially went to the garage because the alternator was only putting out power when revving the engine.

    Now with the new Nippon alternator, the car apparently still isn't charging :s

    The garage are having an auto electrician come to take a look when possible, but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas what it could be here? I still have the old "bad" alternator, which was only fitted about 1.5 years ago.
    It's unlikely a new one also doesn't work, right? - so I'm assuming the multi plug for the voltage regulator is probably connected to something in the car that is at fault (or the wiring is damaged)?
    Does anyone know what the voltage regulator connects to - or how to "rig" it to produce a steady voltage for testing?

    Thanks

  2. #2
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    Drive the alternator round with a drill.
    Put a hex adaptor to 3/8 or 1/2 drive with a socket of the correct size in a drill and spin the alternator. you should be able to measure from the live stud on back of the alternator to the case of the alternator to get the voyage output. Make sure you measure voltage.

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    Piers1989's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Davezj View Post
    Drive the alternator round with a drill.
    Put a hex adaptor to 3/8 or 1/2 drive with a socket of the correct size in a drill and spin the alternator. you should be able to measure from the live stud on back of the alternator to the case of the alternator to get the voyage output. Make sure you measure voltage.

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    I'll give it a try Dave, thanks.

    If it does test ok, any ideas what might be causing the non-charging issue?

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Piers1989 View Post
    I'll give it a try Dave, thanks.

    If it does test ok, any ideas what might be causing the non-charging issue?
    There are a couple of things to try.
    There should be a wire that runs from the alternator output directly to the battery or it might go via something else. So you could measure resistance from alternator end of wire to the positive battery terminal. Resistance should be minimal. The resistance of your test leads.
    The next is grounding.
    Measure from the alternator case to the battery negative terminal again resistance should be minimal.
    There should be and earth strap from chassis to rear head. If that is missing it can cause issues.

    Try that and let us know.



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    Piers1989's Avatar

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    Looks like it is point number 1 there Dave - the auto electrician was at the garage today and the 100 Amp fuse linking to the alternator was blown. Put a coil of wire in to test and I'm told it was charging.

    Ordered one from Euro Car Parts to be with them tomorrow. Fingers crossed - was only £1.50 anyway!

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    Excellent news it is the best possible outcome.
    Well cheapest to fix.

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    To not open new thread will carry on here as my black one show batt light yesterday, and there's no charging from alt regardless the revs, I changed alt today for, what I assume, was a good working alt as was taken from running car (donkeys years back), but outcome is the same, no charge, fuse ok, thick wire running from batt to alt ok, not sure what do do next, wondering what 4 wire plug do and how to test it, any ideas?
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    Adam, there is a image with some detail on 16-4 of the manual. It also includes guide (16-23) on checking the alternator once removed and disassembled.

    Loom Side:
    There are 2 wires back to the ECU, 1 from the charging lamp & ignition switch (which must be ok as the lamp lights) and a final one from battery +. These all go internally to the voltage regulator. If you have the tools i would try and check the two ECU wires on a scope - There should be either a pulse train or a variable dc level on them when engine running. Likewise should be +12v on the wire back to battery (on the 4 pin plug). Seems there is a fuse for that wire also - worth a nose in the engine fuse box.

    There is also an alternator relay in parallel with the charge indicator which might be at fault. The charge indicator is needed to kick start the alternator, but the relay is needed to turn this off and fully energise the alternator if i am interpreting this right.
    Good Luck!

  9. #9
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    Great info there will carry on digging tomorrow, Thanks

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    Adam did you replace the wire from rear head to bulk head chassis point.
    I seem to remember you burnt out the small wire you had fitted there.

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    I know there should be a large yellow and black cable going from the battery ground to the top of the bell housing.
    I am presuming that is in place as well.

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    The battery ground to bellhousing also goes to the chassis near the battery tray.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Davezj View Post
    Adam did you replace the wire from rear head to bulk head chassis point.
    I seem to remember you burnt out the small wire you had fitted there.

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    Yes you right there Dave, its missing now, not sure what happen with it, its not there. But I just fitted replacement and there is no difference, may lack of this connection damage something else? later will try to trace

    There is also an alternator relay in parallel with the charge indicator which might be at fault. The charge indicator is needed to kick start the alternator, but the relay is needed to turn this off and fully energise the alternator if i am interpreting this right.
    and all 4 cables from alt plug, where they go and what they do.

  14. #14
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    Adam did you say you had checked the main fuse for the alternator.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Davezj View Post
    Adam did you say you had checked the main fuse for the alternator.

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    Yes checked that one and all, under bonnet and inside car, all good.

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    Just have a look on electrical diagrams (thanks @Amonlym ) and locate alt relay, will have a closer look on it tomorrow.

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    Small update, I check alt relay from fuse box, its odd, by check I mean i swap over with one from other vr4, still no charge, so I check other vr4, and its getting complicated, as it charge fine on both relays BUT without any relay plugged in it is still charging fine 0 changes in voltage, its getting a bit annoyed now.

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    Not the correct relay?

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    Or the relay is only needed at very high outputs?

    how about the wire on the plug directly from B+? seeing good voltage on that?
    Adam If you check further down on the linked document it shows a bunch of tests to check the alternator itself, run them on the one you removed first of all. Maybe its just 2 bad alternators? (or swap the one from white into black to prove the same)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Davezj View Post
    Not the correct relay?

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    Correct one Dave, its the one in right bottom corner looking from front on fuse box.

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