Battery Charging

[Doggy]

Well, it's definitely not charging.

You need to find out what voltage you're getting out of the alternator - it may be OK and you're losing it via poor cennections somewhere. If that's 12.2V too, the alternators goosed, (assuming it's turning).

If you get 14V or so at the alternator, try CAREFULLY putting a jump lead between the alternator casing & battery NEGATIVE terminal - if this makes a diffeerence to the voltage at the battery you have an earth problem somewhere.

[teamster1975]

I've just had a thought; if the alternator looks newish I wonder whether they routed the belt correctly.
Check this post in the KB and compare it to yours.

[pushcaddy]

Thanks a million dogslife and teamster am on it first thing in the morning!!



Nicked your belt setup picture teamster thank you!

[pushcaddy]

Hiya Teamster and dogslife really appreciate the assist guys!

Well the belt routing looks correct, but unsure how to get at the alternator terminals to check voltage at the actual alternator?

Right in assuming there are only two connections! Looks like a rubber covered button, with a small spade connector attached and a seperate single lead attached just below the button! Can access the seperate lead with a probe but can't access the button connector? Bit wary as I can't tell which is the live and negative!

Sorry if I'm appearing a bit thick fellas!

BTW- I'm more convinced that the alternator is newish, I did try to post a couple of pictures teamster but the forum wouldn't let me! Pics on the link below!

http://s795.photobucket.com/albums/yy23 ... 20TROUBLE/

[DiscoPol]

it certainly looks fairly newish,
it may have been replaced in an effort to cure what ever problem it is you have now, maybe a bad earth?

as for only being able to get at one terminal have you tried that one and the other probe earthed to the body/engine anything that might give you the negative you need it could be the one you are getting to is the live or the negative, but worth a try and if its the neg you can get to it wont do any further damage if you try it this way. if not then its time for some more work to get to the other terminal.

DiscoPol

[teamster1975]

I did try to post a couple of pictures teamster but the forum wouldn't let me!

It's because you posted a link to the album, you can only display individual pictures within the IMG tags
You're right, that does look near enough brand new! As disco says I would be checking the wiring now unless it happens to be a duff alternator (stranger things have happened! )

[pushcaddy]

Pic advice noted teamster thank you, managed to get a little closer to the alternator and there is a label on it which hasn't got a mark on it, has to be new!!

Will try to get a reading using your metod disco many thanks.

[pushcaddy]

Latest update:

Managed to get at the alternator terminals:-

Battery Charge Fault on dash stays on.
Engine off = 12.3
Engine @ idle = 12.3

Decided to check if alternator terminals were tight I got a couple of turns on the negative anyway tried it again and believe it or not got the following readings:

Battery Charge Fault did not come on (promising)
At the Battery
Engine off = 12. 3
Engine idle = 14.6 I nearly jumped in the air with excitement

Got my son to increase the revs upto 15/20k and what do you know Battery Charge Fault light comes on and battery stops charging, foot off accelerator and dropped back to idle and Fault light goes off and battery begins charging again! Did this 2 or 3 times with exactly the same result, 4th time and currently Fault light on permanently as before and battery not charging??

Got a "friend of a friend" coming round later to have a look for me, any ideas from you fellas are still greatly appreciated and I will obviously keep you informed as to what he thinks!

Please don't go away guys........

[steve_earwig]

Maybe the terminals need a clean

[DiscoPol]

My money's on a duff earth or cable joint somewhere, I had something similar a few years back and it was a dry soldered joint under the car somewhere,

sadly it wasnt on a 406 so i cant really help out with locations and it was on my 740 which had the battery in the boot so there was a lot more cable between alternator and battery, but its a strange one that it changes with revs that could point to the alternator itself being iffy.... sorry thinking whilst typing a kind of stream of conciousness type thing.

but the fact you got somewhere when you tweaked up the terminals points to maybe a rough install of the alternator and maybe worth looking at removing and refitting by somebody you trust or yourself if you are able. at least you now know that it will work sometimes which is an improvement, let us know what the friend of a friend thinks or finds wont you, i will have a ponder on it and see if i can think of anything else, but to be honest i think im out of ideas now, sorry


Disco

[Doggy]

This reminds me of another post I read some time ago, where one of the relays in the engine fusebox had to be energised for it to charge, or something similar. Think it was about a charging fault too. I think the relay was chattering / buzzing.

Ring any bells with anyone?

[DiscoPol]

This reminds me of another post I read some time ago, where one of the relays in the engine fusebox had to be energised for it to charge, or something similar. Think it was about a charging fault too. I think the relay was chattering / buzzing.

Ring any bells with anyone?

wasn't it bypassed with something to keep the engine running, or am i thinking of something else? i have a mental image of Statler and Waldorf now Doggy, two old men trying to remember something, sometime, somebody...............
there are distant bells in there somewhere

[Doggy]

You've got a point there, whoever you are.

If you were to write your name inside your spectacle case, you'd be able to remember who you are. Save all that hassle with rejoining as someone else all the time.

[DiscoPol]

Save all that hassle with rejoining as someone else all the time.

I don't rejoin I transmogrify its a hidden skill I have


This is the exact image that came to mind last night when i was trying add detail to your vague post

[pushcaddy]

Update Guys,

Thanks for all the advice guys it really did help, the friend of a friend was actually a renault mechanic! In his professional opinion Battery, Alternator or wiring! New battery (tick), Wiring looks okay (tick), Alternator looks new but!

So managed to pick up an alternator on "TakeachanceBay.com" can't tell you how much because I think it would upset a few people guy assured me he fitted it to a 406 the week before his customer wrote the car off anyway looked okay so took a flyer!

The renault lad came back tonight and fitted it for me, really helpful guy took him about an hour all in! Anyway took it for a 20 minute drive and no "battery fault light" back to work in the morning so a good 44 mile round trip to test it out.

You fellas have been awesome, number of small projects lined up for the car and if you guys don't mind I will be calling on you again!

Anything I can do to help out the forum please let me know.

Many thanks once again..........