3200 alternator

[Contigo]

Sorry to resurrect this but I had an issue this evening for what is the first few hours with my 3200.

so CEL came on after 10 mins driving, the car has been sat and i supect the battery has been charged a few times and maybe even frequently jump started. I was driving to a mates garage to read the CEL codes and the car just died on me. Oil light came on and also the battery red LED was lit. Tried firing her again and started but then died within a few seconds of starting.

Turn ignition off and sat for a good few minutes with hazards on and started sweating. I then fired her back up and started fine and allowed me to drive to the garage where the car is being left for them to check it in the morning.

I measured the voltage at the battery whilst ignition was off and it sat at 14.5V. I then measured when engine was running and it was running 17.8V, the volts did not surge when I revved the engine. It smelt rich too and the revs were at 1K rpm whilst idling.

Does this sound like a voltage regulator problem mentioned earlier in this thread? Is there an easy way to diagnose the alternator and take measurements? Thanks in advance guys!

 

[CatmanV2]

I'd have thought 17.8 was way high, and, coupled with the lack of increase when revving, would suspect a regulator issue *but* others on here know way more than I do

C

 

[Contigo]

Yep for sure 17.8V is too high and overcharge normally points to an alternator regulator issue I'd have thought. Next question then for Beau is who is best to recon these alternators ?

 

[davy83]

How did you measure these voltages? There is no doubt that 17.8 volts is way too high, but your battery voltage of 14.5 is also very high. if the meter you were using was reading too high by say 3 volts, you would have 11.5v static and 14.8 running which is fine. SO if it was a calibrated and trusted meter then you have a regulation problem at the alternator, and if its the gauge in the dash then you may not have a problem at all (the dash meter is rubbish), just get a "real meter" and measure it to check.

Sorry to resurrect this but I had an issue this evening for what is the first few hours with my 3200.

so CEL came on after 10 mins driving, the car has been sat and i supect the battery has been charged a few times and maybe even frequently jump started. I was driving to a mates garage to read the CEL codes and the car just died on me. Oil light came on and also the battery red LED was lit. Tried firing her again and started but then died within a few seconds of starting.

Turn ignition off and sat for a good few minutes with hazards on and started sweating. I then fired her back up and started fine and allowed me to drive to the garage where the car is being left for them to check it in the morning.

I measured the voltage at the battery whilst ignition was off and it sat at 14.5V. I then measured when engine was running and it was running 17.8V, the volts did not surge when I revved the engine. It smelt rich too and the revs were at 1K rpm whilst idling.

Does this sound like a voltage regulator problem mentioned earlier in this thread? Is there an easy way to diagnose the alternator and take measurements? Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Contigo]

Measured using a heavy duty DMM. I will try again with a different DMM to see if there is any disparity between the two. I have been told by Mike Roberts to not worry about the alternator as in 20 years he has not seen one fail.

 

[davy83]

I would agree the alternators do seem to be pretty robust, most threads relate to people who are alarmed at the dash meter being so random, and not generally the alternator failing.