Intimitant charging problem

[MrGav!]

Ok, i've had the Transit 2 weeks now, used it twice, and twice it's broke down!!

First time it ran out of fuel (i now know that quarter of a tank on the gauge means sod-all in the tank!).

Second time i drove about 12 miles with the lights, blower motor, and wipers all going, went to start it after switching it off for a minute, and it wouldn't even turn over (not the starter motor). Jump started it, put a volt-meter on the battery, and it wasn't charging. Had a fun drive 12 miles in the other direction, trying not to use any electrics at all, so no lights, and it was getting darker, no wipers, and it was pi*sing down!

When i got back the other end, i checked the charge again, and it's charging perfectly! About 14 volts. Put all the lights, blower motor, etc on, and it still charged ok. Checked it again last night, and still all good.

I'm thinking it's possibly the voltage regulator, anyone else have any ideas?

[sidspop]

Check everything. Earths, connections to battery, get the alternator itself checked.

I wouldn't just jump in and start suspecting a specific component, do the job once and do it right.

[MrGav!]

Found out what it was. Needed to put some fuel in it, so decided to pull into a supermarket car-park just to check it would start once i'd switched off, it didn't. Luckily had a few spanners with me, so i dis-connected the battery, had a quick wipe of the terminals, put them back on, and away it went!

Later on i cleaned them up properly, and it's been running right ever since. It's all my own fault for not checking them after being caught out, and trying to tighten the terminals with a pair of pliers when i had to swap the battery over a few days before!