Hi guys, endured a breakdown last night in my 58-plate 1.8 petrol Focus. RAC came and rescued me and diagnosed a flat battery caused by the alternator not charging. The alternator looks almost brand new (I've not had the car long so unsure) but he tested the voltage etc and it wasn't charging.

He stuck his hand down the front of the engine and fiddled about with something (I'm sure he said the small connector) and it started pumping out 14-14.5V. It didn't last long and we ended up driving home with a new battery attached and a 12V starter battery attached to that!

Phoned a mobile mechanic today and he says this is a common fault and that you can buy a repair kit that has the loom and six inches or wire with it. I've tried to find it online but I'm drawing a blank. Any of you fine people had the same issue and where did you get your parts from?

The problem is not just in the final 6 inches of wiring, it’s all the way up to the next connector which is roughly at the top of the radiator height. I usually chop the loom there and remove the connector, then replace the wiring down to the alternator and then splice on a pre wired connector there. 

2 minutes ago, stef123 said:

The problem is not just in the final 6 inches of wiring, it’s all the way up to the next connector which is roughly at the top of the radiator height. I usually chop the loom there and remove the connector, then replace the wiring down to the alternator and then splice on a pre wired connector there. 

Thanks for the info. Any idea where I can get what's required? I have the technical knowledge and ability of a water cress sandwich, so am going to buy what's needed and some mobile dude is going to come fit it for me.

 

Have a look on eBay (for example) for ‘Ford smart charge connector’ 

you should recognise the one you need. 

These are pics from the last one I done, that entire section of loom is terrible for corrosion and falling apart. You’ll repair one area and it’ll break further up shortly. 
 

 

 

 

You need 4998243 about a tenner off eBay 

 

Had the car towed to the garage and they've tested the wiring from the alternator (which they've confirmed as being brand new) as far as they can and there's no loose connection etc that they can find so far. They've said that the battery is ruined and is only now putting out 5v so they're replacing that.

Was weird when it was getting put onto the flatbed yesterday. Despite the battery being knackered and the car unable to start, the headlights came on even though they were turned off!

If the battery was completely knackered, could that account for the alternator not trying to charge it because of the smart charging thing? Would it know the battery was broken? Seems strange that the alternator kicked in for a a minute or so when the RAC guy fiddled with a connector but they can't find a break in the circuit now they've got it on a ramp.