Ludders 0 Posted March 4, 2008 Hi everybody, My newly rebuilt 205 MI16 has some strange charging behaviour. Please bear in mind my mechanical knowledge is very limited! When first started and driven I notice the lights (exterior & interior) are very dim. If you give it some decent acceleration at about 3-3500 rpm everything brightens up and then I don't have a problem again even at low revs. You do have to accelerate quite hard to get it to wake up though. I had a quick look under the bonnet, along the fuel rail there are two earth points, one fitted nicely and the others bolt is missing and so it is not earthing. I asked the garage I have it booked into it if this could be the problem and whilst they will fit it properly they said it is unlikely to be causing this problem. This is a bit of a nightmare as the battery drains quite quickly and first thing in the morning I'm stuck in traffic and don't really want to be racing my cold engine. Any advice would be very highly appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pa402 0 Posted March 4, 2008 Mine used to do this, just a 1.9 though. Battery wouldnt charge properly until revved over 3k. Mine was due to the wire that should be attached to the alternator not being attached. Reattached the wire and back to normal. Might be this. Paul Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fenton 1,542 Posted March 4, 2008 Yep, signal wire has either dropped off, or the brown plug is corroded to hell meaning there is no connection back to the loom. If you sort this out it will charge normally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ludders 0 Posted March 5, 2008 Thanks for the info. Will check this tonight and let you know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peetypug 5 Posted March 5, 2008 if that doesnt solve it, make sure it aint the dash bulb that has blown as this also stops the initial 12v needed getting to the alternator Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ludders 0 Posted March 5, 2008 The dash bulb? Sorry I don't totally understand. A blown bulb in the dash can stop the alternator charging? There are a few bulbs blown in the dash that I haven't got round to changing yet, am I being dumb? Also if this wire has become disconnected from the alternator will it be fairly easy to see and reconnect? Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C_W 3 1 Cars Posted March 5, 2008 Mine used to do this too, all wiring was ok and it was only cured when I fitted a new alternator. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ludders 0 Posted March 5, 2008 The alternator is new so I'm assuming it's not faulty. . . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bondo 6 Posted March 5, 2008 The alternator is new so I'm assuming it's not faulty. . . It really does sound like a problem with the exciter circuit. Alternators don't produce current on their own as they don't have permanent magnets in them. Consequently they need a power feed from the battery. This is connected to your dash light which will go out if the alternator is charging. They will 'self excite' over about 3000 revs and carry on until you turn the car off again. So you see your problem points to a fault with that circuit. Probably just a duff connection. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ludders 0 Posted March 5, 2008 Thanks everybody. It goes into the garage tomorrow for a new steering rack so hopefully this charging problem should be an easy fix. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peetypug 5 Posted March 5, 2008 this is straight out of the haynes 1 If the ignition warning light fails to illuminate when the ignition is switched on, first check the alternator wiring connections for security. If satisfactory, check that the warning light bulb has not blown, and that the bulbholder is secure in its location in the instrument panel. If the light still fails to illuminate, check the continuity of the warning light feed wire from the alternator to the bulbholder. If all is satisfactory, the alternator is at fault and should be renewed or taken to an autoelectrician for testing and repair. 2 If the ignition warning light illuminates when the engine is running, stop the engine and check that the drivebelt is correctly tensioned (see Chapter 1) and that the alternator connections are secure. If all is so far satisfactory, have the alternator checked by an auto-electrician for testing and repair. 3 If the alternator output is suspect even though the warning light functions correctly, the regulated voltage may be checked as follows. 4 Connect a voltmeter across the battery terminals and start the engine. 5 Increase the engine speed until the voltmeter reading remains steady; the reading should be approximately 12 to 13 volts, and no more than 14 volts. 6 Switch on as many electrical accessories (eg, the headlights, heated rear window and heater blower) as possible, and check that the alternator maintains the regulated voltage at around 13 to 14 volts. 7 If the regulated voltage is not as stated, the fault may be due to worn brushes, weak brush springs, a faulty voltage regulator, a faulty diode, a severed phase winding or worn or damaged slip rings. The alternator should be renewed or taken to an auto-electrician for testing and repair. cant find a pic of the dash Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
