Charging Problem

[majortom]

Hi all
Got a 1998 1.9td which had battery light glowing and no charge at battery, fitted new alternator and still have same problem. Can anyone suggest and solutions for me please.
The alternator has two connections, a big one and a small one. The smaller (front) connector shows 15 volts when connected to a meter and the battery earth (engine running). Is the bigger one earth?
Dont know where to go from here.
Thanks in advance
Nigel

[steve_earwig]

Hi Nigel, welcome

I'm pretty sure you should be seeing the battery on the other end of the big boy, the little guy should just be for the charge light and running relay, so you're probably seeing the other side of the bulb (although 15v is a bit excessive). Are you sure that's an earth on the big boy? Maybe you have a cable off and it's grounded somewhere. I don't have any wiring diagrams for a 406 as early as yours but on the later cars the cable foes to the starter motor and thence to the battery +ve, I wouldn't expect your car to be different.

[majortom]

Hi cheers for reply.
No I'm not sure its earth. I know it shouldnt as both should be live. The little one for the exciter and the big un to the battery +. Or at least thats what I thought anyways. If its 15v at the little one when running and thats the light wire that would prob explain the glowing light.
I have had problems with the glow plug relay, could this be connected?!!
I will take some more bits off on Monday!
Thanks for suggestions
Nigel

[steve_earwig]

Ah, D+ even. I don't know if these things bother with an exciter any more, it's all bleedin' diodes these days.

I wouldn't have thought it had anything to do with the glowplug relay.

If it helps XUD9 wiring diagram (in a 306):
http://www.autoelectric.ru/auto/peugeot ... /xu9te.htm
Glowplug real bottom rh corner (1150) sadly it doesn't appear to show the alternator (that I can spot anyway).

Also XUD11 which shows alternator (lhs about 1/3 of the way down 1020) http://www.autoelectric.ru/auto/peugeot/406/p8c/p8c.htm I'd expect the big connector to be the BB one (BB means straight to battery)

[majortom]

Ok so done some more fiddling.
All connections present and correct.
According to the wiring diagram the alternator and the heater plug control unit are powered from something called the "maxi fuse unit". Well I have no power at all to the heater plug control unit but have power to the small cable to the alternator. There is no power under any situation to or from the larger terminal on the alt.
Anyone know what and where is the maxi fuse unit?
awaiting and confused
Nigel

[steve_earwig]

Your car has fuses from a Maxi?

I dunno, I guess it means the big fuses situated around the fuse panel under the bonnet.

I have a few diagrams I've managed to scrape together here - http://s222.photobucket.com/user/steve_ ... use%20diag Hopefully there might be something you can use.

[Puggy2]

The battery/alternator wiring is simple big wire on big terminal little wire on little terminal the ignition light should only be on if engine not running the large terminal should have battery voltage. Have you got the right alternator?

[majortom]

yep defo got the correct one. Well at least it fits and it was for my model, year, etc.
Defo no power to big terminal and no power to glow plug control unit.
Ign light on when not running and glowing (not fully bright) when running but no charge at battery, and 15v + from small alt wire.
Is it controlled by a relay or something?
cheers
nigel

[Puggy2]

Was it a second hand alternator?

[majortom]

No a new one

[steve_earwig]

That doesn't change the fact it should be seeing battery voltage on the big lead. I'd say no to the relay but as you've already seen the wiring on them is a bit of a mystery.

I have some Russian and Polish manuals for them and maybe it's worth having a look when I get a minute later as they're better than Haynes, even if they're in forrin...

[majortom]

Cheers for that.
It doesn't even show battery voltage on the big lead with it disconnected.
cheers
Nigel

[lozz]

Ground control to majortom.

Have you checked all the earth's?

[majortom]

Yerp. All earths OK.
Thanks for reply )
Nigel

[steve_earwig]

I'm afraid I've drawn a blank with the forrin manuals

French - no wiring diagrams.
Polish - no diesels.
Russian - I scanned the lot, no wiring diagrams that I can find.

I think you're going to have to chase cables. Did you get anywhere looking for those Maxi fuses?