Alternator charging issues

[jaseb13]

and i checked all the fuses i could find, pop the caps of in engine bay and checked under dash and no blown fuses

[Yendor]

I'm driving 2001 GU ZD30

The battery light comes on and stays on when the car has been started along with the sub tank light and even the ABS light was on for a bit. The tacho lights don't show up at all i'm not sure if the globes are blown or wiring has melted somewhere, but when the car is running the little light behind the clock in the dash is on but when i switched the headlights on they disappeared altogether.

as for the readings the car was running when i took the alternator reading and got the 1.6 volt at the same time car running i was getting around 11.2 at the battery. im told it should be around 13.5 to 14?

im going have a look at all wiring again but when i replaced the unit all the wiring seemed to be fine even at the switch..


Yendor do you know if the two wires joined together at the back need to be attached to the replacement unit as on the standard? these no power running through them so it may just be another earth?

Cheers

The voltage reading at the back of the alternator should be the same as across the battery regardless of if the engine is running or not. It sounds like you have blown the main 100amp fuse near the battery.

Did you disconnect the battery when changing the alternator?

If the wires are large black wires, yes they need to be connected to earth. On the top alternator mounting bracket there is a threaded hole that I normally connect them to. Just find yourself a suitable bolt. You might also need to cut the tape from the harness to get some extra length in the black wire if they don't reach. These black wires won't stop the alternator from working.

[Yendor]

and i checked all the fuses i could find, pop the caps of in engine bay and checked under dash and no blown fuses

Double check the 100amp fuse with a test light. Make sure it has power on both sides.

The wire runs from this fuse to the alternator, you did reconnect the large white wire under the 10mm nut on the alternator?

[jaseb13]

Double check the 100amp fuse with a test light. Make sure it has power on both sides.

The wire runs from this fuse to the alternator, you did reconnect the large white wire under the 10mm nut on the alternator?

i just double checked 100amp and its fine, all the wires have been reconnected as per previously (except for those two black wires)

I've been reading about an exciter wire or something of this nature, have you heard of this??

[Yendor]

i just double checked 100amp and its fine, all the wires have been reconnected as per previously (except for those two black wires)

I've been reading about an exciter wire or something of this nature, have you heard of this??

What is the voltage reading on the large white wire at the back of the alternator now?

The exciter wire is one of the two wires in the 2 pin plug at the alternator I asked you to check before. You need to have battery voltage in the white wire first.

[jaseb13]

great news!! so after checking over all wires, checking power in switches traced it all back to the nut that is inside the fuse box next to the 100amp fuse which connects to the other 100amp fuse and then goes back to the battery..the nut was LOOSE!! thats why i was getting power but very minimal due to bad connection

tightened all up cleaned all terminals and now getting full charge and every things back to normal..feel bit stupid about it all but i suppose its the little things..

i did get a new battery and alternator out of it but probably due for replacing anyway..

thanks heaps for the help appreciate it