New alternator problems - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

ED195KW · 09-03-2003, 07:03

My alternator recently died, so I bought a brand new one (this is for an EB XR8 btw) Ok, got the new alternator, put it in. After a long drive, the battery light is still on. The voltmeter in the car reads around 14V when running, battery is fully charged.

When I test the battery with the car off, multimeter reads 13.4 Volts. ?!? Is the alternator over charging? Also, my head lights are flickering when idling. Not going dim then bright, but normal then brighter. Almost as if the alternator is putting out too much charge. But when I test the battery when car is running, 14.1 Volts, no matter what revs. The output should be 14.8?!?

Is there another regulator apart from the one on the alternator? I had a quick look, but can't find one.

Any ideas?

cs123 · 09-04-2003, 21:37

The alternator volts jump up to around 14V just above idle so the headlights going bright/dim are probably just that.

Check the battery voltage sometime after the engine has been switched off, you'll find the voltage should have settled down. It doesn't sound like it is overcharging.

I'm not sure about the warning light. On older cars this was connected to the field winding. Don't know how it is wired on the EB's or what it means in your case.

LTDHO · 09-07-2003, 01:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by ED195KW

My alternator recently died, so I bought a brand new one (this is for an EB XR8 btw) Ok, got the new alternator, put it in. After a long drive, the battery light is still on. The voltmeter in the car reads around 14V when running, battery is fully charged.

When I test the battery with the car off, multimeter reads 13.4 Volts. ?!? Is the alternator over charging? Also, my head lights are flickering when idling. Not going dim then bright, but normal then brighter. Almost as if the alternator is putting out too much charge. But when I test the battery when car is running, 14.1 Volts, no matter what revs. The output should be 14.8?!?

Is there another regulator apart from the one on the alternator? I had a quick look, but can't find one.

Any ideas?

Slightly on topic, how much did ya pay for the Alternator?

Cheers

ED195KW · 09-07-2003, 03:29

$440 the alternator cost me. Brand new.

9psi EB · 09-07-2003, 21:23

E-series have a common problem with the wires on the seperate connector to the alternator either breaking, or increasing in resistance, causing voltage drop, therefore the dash light will illuminate.

One wire has battery voltage to it - as a reference voltage, and the other controls the dash light.

Take it to an auto elect and have it checked, they should know what to look for.

ED195KW · 09-08-2003, 22:39

Well that would explain a few things, I'll have to take a look.

Thanks.