Erlingtheyounger
Member
Ditto. Also, an easy fix and every A2 should have one anyway
No charging of battery by new alternator - link / whatever diagnosed by garage. Anyone know how to establish breakage of 'link" location ?
- Thread starter MARTYN
- Start date
Many thanks all, i am going to screen shot all the correspondence and send to garage. For photos maybe take laptop to get online there...
PlasticMac
Member
Hi Martyn,
When you are driving, having charged the battery, and before the battery starts to fail, is the Alternator Warning red light on in the dash? Should come on with ignition, and go out when the engine stops. Does it please?
Mac.
When you are driving, having charged the battery, and before the battery starts to fail, is the Alternator Warning red light on in the dash? Should come on with ignition, and go out when the engine stops. Does it please?
Mac.
Hi Mac, Thanks, have just spoken to mechanic and can screen shoot more threads.
No red alternator light has come on when driving ( would have noticed ) - will check but as you say should come on when starts. Have not gone anywhere to be safe since 100% charge put in over 9 hours yesterday.......no red light came on as a got to Arrina, 26 miles from garage, when steering became hard ( probably ok now that have charged battery )
Pointing to earths ????
I have told mechanic a potted version of what has been said here and referred him to the link showing the area behind the near passenger side headlight. Help here is amazing, thanks again, Martin
PlasticMac
Member
This is just my thoughts, nothing more.
The main positive supply from the battery runs direct to the starter motor.
Because the car starts on the battery, that positive lead must be OK. For the same reason, the earth to the starter must also be OK.
The alternator light is not on in the dash, so the alternator has output voltage. This is an indication of output voltage only, doesn't mean the battery is being charged.
The high current output from the alternator, (which charges the battery), a big black cable, goes to the positive connection on the starter motor, where it is joined by the even bigger black cable, from the battery.
So, from this summary, the problem could well be the big black cable from the alternator to the starter motor.
I'm thinking of this sort of thing, (pics courtesy of Sarge).
Mac.
The main positive supply from the battery runs direct to the starter motor.
Because the car starts on the battery, that positive lead must be OK. For the same reason, the earth to the starter must also be OK.
The alternator light is not on in the dash, so the alternator has output voltage. This is an indication of output voltage only, doesn't mean the battery is being charged.
The high current output from the alternator, (which charges the battery), a big black cable, goes to the positive connection on the starter motor, where it is joined by the even bigger black cable, from the battery.
So, from this summary, the problem could well be the big black cable from the alternator to the starter motor.
I'm thinking of this sort of thing, (pics courtesy of Sarge).
Mac.
PlasticMac
Member
If, and it's a big if, it's that cable, I'd think the garage would be able to do a temporary repair, make, or adapt a replacement. As your quite isolated, I'd think they were used to spares being a long time coming.
Mac.
kp 115
A2OC Donor
Order some gtechniq glass treatment @ you won’t need to use wipers,delivered to site where you’re staying maybe
Best £40 you’ll spend .(amazon) may be worth a look?
Hope that helps
Keith.
Howey
Member
Had a look on amazon but there's none that I have seen close to £40?
Is it better than rain x?
Thanks for that but should be able to get over to garage with battery fully charged ( I have bought a charger and connected through caravan window ) Forecast not rain tomorrow but who knows in highlands ! Likely to be light as now and can use "intermittent" mode infrequently maybe if it does rain a little.
Never heard of glass treatment, everyday is a school day ! Many thanks again
- like to the numerous others on this site who have taken the trouble to explain in detail solutions...am hoping its going to be a "Down to the ..Earth one" everything considered ! 
.....not a spare part that is no longer available !
Howey
Member
I certainly don't discount the alternator power lead but know in the galaxy at least when the resistance gets too much in the cable it puts the charge "battery" light on. I hope its the earth but if so concerns me that a mechanic would not first make sure the earth is good.
Very cheap at Halfords too!
I run my additional earth from engine mount to drive belt tensioner much easier and works a treat have said numerous times this should be the first "mod" all A2 owners make, I know I do!
Very cheap at Halfords too!
I run my additional earth from engine mount to drive belt tensioner much easier and works a treat have said numerous times this should be the first "mod" all A2 owners make, I know I do!
Thanks again - I have very same concerns regarding not making first check on earth,
PlasticMac
Member
The only thing wrong with Martyn's car is that the battery isn't being being charged. It starts and runs. It got him and his family the 700 miles from Plymouth after all. The dash shows the alternator has an output. For me, that doesn't sound like an earth fault. Would a bad earth handle the huge current drawn by the starter?
Mac.
Mac.
Dash has never shown alternator red charging fault. No skill / knowledge of how bad earth handling starter current would affect things ? Martin
PlasticMac
Member
A bad earth will pass little or no current. The starter draws 60 - 80 amps, that's why it has a big fat cable. The car wouldn't start if the earth was bad.
I'd give the mechanic some space, and credit. He's probably fixed a few cars before Martyn's.
Mac.
Edit: A new alternator was fitted very recently, maybe the fitter didn't do the terminal nut up tight, and it's now fallen off ...
Might even be worth a look:
Last edited:
Alternator fittted in April, will checkout with mechanic - has been checked im told re working correctly, ie giving out current ......thanks.A bad earth will pass little or no current. The starter draws 60 - 80 amps, that's why it has a big fat cable. The car wouldn't start if the earth was bad.
I'd give the mechanic some space, and credit. He's probably fixed a few cars before Martyn's.
Mac.
Edit: A new alternator was fitted very recently, maybe the fitter didn't do the terminal nut up tight, and it's now fallen off ...
Might even be worth a look:
BIG THANK YOU to everyone for the help, advice etc given - much appreciated - it was the earth behind the light fitting !!!! I went and had look after 35 mins and the mechanic had...taken the light out and showed me the bolt / nut. He said did not look at emails but I potted everything said on here, most of all the earth as it turned out to be, suggesting taking light out. I think it helped a lot !!!
He had already checked cable between Starter motor and the alternator previously last Wed.
...So dont have to scrap car !
Thanks Martin
