Electrics / battery/ alternator

[Monkeymantulp]

My 90 2.5TD has been a bit of a pain to start since i had it in November with warming the coils, but always has started...

Few weeks ago it started to play up and have battery problems (put down to the cold also) , i've managed to kick start it and it runs fine, but no charge is kept in the battery and would need kicking again the next day even after a long run.

I went for a free battery test and they said my alternator was barely producing 12V's of charge and the battery is on it's way out. This would be fine, but it's had a new alternator a few months before i got it...

Is there any checks i can do to see whether it's needing a new alternator and battery or just battery (i.e earth faults) ?

Cheers in advance
Nick

[fezzy192]

My 90 2.5TD has been a bit of a pain to start since i had it in November with warming the coils, but always has started...

Few weeks ago it started to play up and have battery problems (put down to the cold also) , i've managed to kick start it and it runs fine, but no charge is kept in the battery and would need kicking again the next day even after a long run.

I went for a free battery test and they said my alternator was barely producing 12V's of charge and the battery is on it's way out. This would be fine, but it's had a new alternator a few months before i got it...

Is there any checks i can do to see whether it's needing a new alternator and battery or just battery (i.e earth faults) ?

Cheers in advance
Nick

hi nick check the earths on youre car as sometimes bad earths can make you alternator not kick out enough voltage

[Monkeymantulp]

When i try and jump it with another battery, all i get is clicking from the starter, is this just a case of low voltage or has that gone aswell?

[Nobber]

a clicking from the starter means low voltage.
that could be a faulty alternator not charging , a weak battery not holding charge , a dodgy starter drawing too much power after the solenoid kicks in , a weak earth or live connection , a dodgy ignition switch or , if there is one a dodgy relay in the ignition circuit.

go over it methodically with a volt tester thingy. if you google it you will get all the correct voltage readings for testing the ignition/starter/battery/alternator etc.

try a different battery if you can to try and rule things out but you really need to go over it with a volt meter to find out where the voltage leak or weak point is..

[figgy]

re poor starting  engine.have you checked the voltage while starting from cold .connect a volt meter to your battery an check that you have 9.5 volts when cranking the engine  .it should be no less than 9.5 volts when starting .

[thompjas]

Hi,

My 90 NA has been a right so and so with the same symptons, when measured the battery was dropping to 10v when the glow plugs was on and then to 8v when the starter motor was cranked.

Fitted a new battery and she started straight away.

My alternator was delivering 13.5 Volts on Tick over when I measured this

[Monkeymantulp]

I've had my alternator measured and that was peaking just under 12.5 V on full load, so i think it's time to buy a voltmeter and go searching!

Cheers fro the replies