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Possible alternator issue?

bigup
bigup
in Ford Focus Club

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Past few weeks having intermittent electrical issues with the focus. Random lights on dash etc, I did the IC fix but not made any difference. 

Brand new fully charged battery installed.
 

Multi Meter reads at 12V with engine on. 


Read positive terminal on alternator and negative on battery again 12v

Took connector plug off the alternator and battery reads 12v with engine off  was expecting 14v here?

cleaned the earth cable end on the chassis as well  

Are there any other tests I can do to confirm it’s the alternator? 

Which alternator to buy? I’ve watched videos and il swap it out myself. 

thanks. 

  • Quote


    51 minutes ago, bigup said:

    Took connector plug off the alternator and battery reads 12v with engine off  was expecting 14v here?

    I take it you mean engine on?  

    The alternator should default to around 13.5v with the engine running and SmartCharge plug out.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    3 hours ago, bigup said:

    Are there any other tests I can do to confirm it’s the alternator? 

    You need a new alternator !!! 👍

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    If you’re only getting 12V from the alternator including when the smart charging connector is disconnected its new alternator time. 
     

    Unless somehow the belt has broken/come off but that would have other effects too I imagine

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    • Like 1
    • Author
    7 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

    I take it you mean engine on?  

    The alternator should default to around 13.5v with the engine running and SmartCharge plug out.

    Yes. Engine on. The reading was 12v

  • Quote
    • Sad 1
    • Author
    1 hour ago, troy45 said:

    If you’re only getting 12V from the alternator including when the smart charging connector is disconnected its new alternator time. 
     

    Unless somehow the belt has broken/come off but that would have other effects too I imagine

    Ok thanks for the sanity check guys. Il source a new alternator. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Author
    16 hours ago, troy45 said:

    If you’re only getting 12V from the alternator including when the smart charging connector is disconnected its new alternator time. 
     

    Unless somehow the belt has broken/come off but that would have other effects too I imagine

    worth while getting a new belt too? i dont think its ever been changed, ive read the tension of the new belt can cause more issues wioth other parts failing.

  • Quote
    3 hours ago, bigup said:

    worth while getting a new belt too? i dont think its ever been changed, ive read the tension of the new belt can cause more issues wioth other parts failing.

    Hopefully the cambelt has been changed?  Usually the aux belt gets changed at the same time.  It will be really crispy and cracked by now if it's still original.

    But yes, when I replaced mine, the tensioner bearing failed soon afterwards, so I ended up having to replace that as well.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

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