How Long Will It Last (Alternator)

[suddste]

Hello,

My alternators on it's way out, when everythings on the voltage goes down to like 10.5V. It's fine however when the essential things like headlights, brake lights, heater fans and radio are on (around 13.5V) Just when you turn the front demisters on the voltage goes low. You can hear a slight whine

What is the cause of this? a diode gone perhaps? When I have rev's high (about 2,500rpm) the lights are less dim with the front demisters are on.

[artscot79]

if you mean the heated window at the front its a mega high voltage item thats why its advised to be used only when necessary at idle the voltage will drop and the alt will whine if the voltage is okay with headlights and rear demist on and the voltage increases when you rev the car the alternators fine.

[suddste]

if you mean the heated window at the front its a mega high voltage item thats why its advised to be used only when necessary at idle the voltage will drop and the alt will whine if the voltage is okay with headlights and rear demist on and the voltage increases when you rev the car the alternators fine.

thanks for the reply

the red warning light comes up for 5 seconds intermittantly, though, (when i say intermittently, I mean twice in 5 months

[artscot79]

have a free battery test done could be a faulty battery or battery cell also check the 3 wires plugged into the alternator.

[mjt]

At the risk of stating the obvious are you sure the belt tension is correct?

[suddste]

At the risk of stating the obvious are you sure the belt tension is correct?

yeah, the belt is tight

[suddste]

have a free battery test done could be a faulty battery or battery cell also check the 3 wires plugged into the alternator.

I dunno, I dont think it's the battery

[Andy 1965]

Also make sure you have a Silver Calcium battery installed.

[suddste]

touched the alternator when I was checking it. It was very very hot i couldnt have my hand on it for more than a second..This is an obvios sign of a dead alternator isnt it? Along with the whining.

I bit the bullet and got a new one..Will be installed on monday.

[artscot79]

not really the alternator will produce heat add to that its made of metal and engine heat if it wasnt hot there would be an issue

[suddste]

.....

[suddste]

I just want to make sure its fine as there is a journey up to scotland soon and dont want it failing on that journey

[artscot79]

any garage will do a free battery and alternator charge check ford rapid fit will do it also

[suddste]

any garage will do a free battery and alternator charge check ford rapid fit will do it also

does it sound like the alternator to you? 10.5V is pretty low even with the front defrosters on

[johnH]

i was going to say if you needed a 105amp alternator i have a spare one which i could of let go for a small amount lol just collecting dust here.

even that checks by some garages cannot point out some faults that give the battery charge light. mine for example, i had the battery light constant. i went and checked the voltage on the battery was a bit low so i got the battery changed just incase a cell had died, light stayed on. went to a few garages/auto electricians they checked, scratched their heads and said could be the alternator so bought a new alternator and fitted it - light still on so the alternator was ok. checked the wiring as best as i could. turned out the ECU reference wire in the wheel arch was snapped. apparently this is really common on the focus's and transits.

you will find however, the heated windscreen wont work when this battery light is on. as this take's so much juice. it is also that taxing on the alternator/battery it is timed to auto turn off 10-15 mins. the back window heaters are timed but dont take as much power and so will stay activated.

with the engine running and a few revs given, everything on, the alternator should kick around 14.5v out. engine off, battery should read anywhere between 12.5v to 12v.

if your engine is running and everything is on, and your alternator is showing as kicking out 11.5v or lower, the alternator has gone into conventional mode and should show the light on the dash. as you say its kicking 10.5v...i would use a multimeter and get someone to put it to 2k revs and see if it increases correctly. if not i would suspect these wires and carry out checks to save you some £££'s of buying a new battery and or alternator first.

[suddste]

i was going to say if you needed a 105amp alternator i have a spare one which i could of let go for a small amount lol just collecting dust here.

even that checks by some garages cannot point out some faults that give the battery charge light. mine for example, i had the battery light constant. i went and checked the voltage on the battery was a bit low so i got the battery changed just incase a cell had died, light stayed on. went to a few garages/auto electricians they checked, scratched their heads and said could be the alternator so bought a new alternator and fitted it - light still on so the alternator was ok. checked the wiring as best as i could. turned out the ECU reference wire in the wheel arch was snapped. apparently this is really common on the focus's and transits.

you will find however, the heated windscreen wont work when this battery light is on. as this take's so much juice. it is also that taxing on the alternator/battery it is timed to auto turn off 10-15 mins. the back window heaters are timed but dont take as much power and so will stay activated.

with the engine running and a few revs given, everything on, the alternator should kick around 14.5v out. engine off, battery should read anywhere between 12.5v to 12v.

if your engine is running and everything is on, and your alternator is showing as kicking out 11.5v or lower, the alternator has gone into conventional mode and should show the light on the dash. as you say its kicking 10.5v...i would use a multimeter and get someone to put it to 2k revs and see if it increases correctly. if not i would suspect these wires and carry out checks to save you some £££'s of buying a new battery and or alternator first.

thanks for that post...I have done the load test and rev'd the engine, although I couldnt read the multimeter myself my friend said that the voltage hardly increased. I dont beleive it's a wiring issue, because there is a whining sound that changes with the speed of the engine

[suddste]

Mistake post please remove

[suddste]

i'm right in saying 10.8V is still too low even with front windscreen demisters are on arent I?

[suddste]

im going to return the alternator I bought, found a cheap one off eBay for £30, will keep in the car untill (if) the current one gets worse

[artscot79]

having 10.8v with the front window on isnt unusual its an extremely high load item the equivelant of having front lights fog lights rear demister and high beam all on at once

[suddste]

having 10.8v with the front window on isnt unusual its an extremely high load item the equivelant of having front lights fog lights rear demister and high beam all on at once

I guess, I mean I turn it on and it doesnt get to the point where the battery warning light goes on. Did you see 10.8V with the front window on in your car?

[artscot79]

it was a bit higher at idle 11.2v

[suddste]

it was a bit higher at idle 11.2v

Yeah mine was 14.0V with heated front screen and headlights on nothing else but at 60mph. 12.6V at idle with just heated front screen in. seems ok.

[suddste]

got the garage to install the alt I bought...decided to change the belt with it also but they supply the belt. They say £120 to install the alt with the belt they supply. Does this sound right.

[artscot79]

that sounds about average for prices mate