Alternator problems!

[V Mad]

Errrrr, don't know, I suspect there isn't one. In eight years of ownership, I'm on my third alternator, a high output one from Wards, after 2 years, no trouble. Good luck, Martin.

In that case did your other ones last 3 years each? Probably made in a shed in Timbuctu.

The Wards ones sound good; what make are they?

[Guest]

I also have an unused brown wire with a female spade connector hanging loose at the alternator. There is no 4th conection on the alternator. I was going to post a question about it. So far I have assumed that it was in the loom from a time when 4 wires were needed for a different alternator.

The wiring diagram shows 4 wires going to the alternator, which confuses me even further.

[Bob Heritage]

Don't know what you lot have been up to. Mine is still the 36 year old original.

[Green Stag]

Thanks for all your suggestions.
The offending alternotor is now repaired and back in the car.

After taking it to bits I measured the resistance accross the brshed and found this varied between about 40 ohms and 360 ohms as I rotated the armature.

So off came the slip ring cover the inside of which was covered with carbon dust!
So tha was cleaned and I gave the slip rings a clean with a glass fibre pen.

All was put back together with a new regulator, the diode stack was tested and found to be okay.

Now charging at 14V yippee!!