Electrical Problem?

[andrew walker]

Hi I wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction.

History have been having problems starting in the cold weather, charged my battery overnight, seems to start after a while, run until up to temp, started fine after that, got in next morning, cental locking worked fine, turn on ignision warning light came on, turn the engine then all of a sudden not power, warning lights would not come back on, now even enought to operated the central locking, checked the battery reading 12v. Bought a brand new battery fitted it engine turned extremly slowly then again no power, same symtems, undid the battery treminals obiously disturbed the wiring and re conected, now have power , again 12v across battery but the starter motor turn very slowly. any suggestions,

many thanks

[Avandriver]

Sounds like a bad earth

Check earth leads to the body and the engine

[andrew walker]

is that the one that comes from the negative terminal

[trigger]

is that the one that comes from the negative terminal

Yes all earths go to the negative terminal and to the body

[Gaz 270]

remove the earth lead from the starter motor and clean the mating surfaces ,re-fit hey presto

[GBBiker]

remove the earth lead from the starter motor and clean the mating surfaces ,re-fit hey presto

There is no earth connection on the starter motor. The casing is the earth

There will be an earth connection on the block somewhere though. Most likely on the alternator mount.

[ireland.1495]

try connecting a jump lead from - battery to engin near stater (doint disconect battery leave it as is connected)
that will tell you if you have a bad earth
what is your battery cold cranking amps

[Gaz 270]

there is on my mark five young man

[GBBiker]

there is on my mark five young man

Petrol or deisel?

Who you calling young?

[Gaz 270]

diesel

[andrew walker]

checked the earths and they seem to be fine, put my battery on trickle charge over night and refitted, started first time, checked voltage accross terminals and seem to be loosing power with engine running, alternator problem? Can anyone tell me how to check if this is the case of what else it could be

Many thanks

[GBBiker]

Check the voltage coming out of the alternator. It should read around 14.4v-14.8v

[mat campbell]

This whole thing has happened to me as well this week!

Battery light doesnt come on on the dash. I charged the battery over night.Still no light, Started fine then the battery slowly ran out of juice as the lights dimmed and the fan slowed down.

I have one other suspicion.
My water pump started squeeking to death just before it started doing this. am i right in thinking the water pump is connected to the alternator??

If this is the case, might the pump seizing up cause the alternator to burn out?

[GBBiker]

The water pump runs on the cam belt, the alternator drives the auxilliary belt.

If your water pump seizes, chances are the cam belt snaps.

[andrew walker]

how do i check the voltage comming out of the alternator, i know you can do it at the battery which should increase can you actually test the alternator itself

mnay thanks