Alternator woes

[flying farmer]

Just over a year ago I bought an uprated WOSP 80 amp alternator from EJ Ward as I had so much agravation with cheap Chinese "Lucas" alternators.

Well, about 13 months and 3500 miles later the ignition light started glowing while the car was having its MOT test ferchristsake.

It went out on the way home, but next time I went out (in the dark) the light started glowing again. The voltage stayed at over 14 despite the light glowing, but I am assuming a diode is on its way out.

Anybody any clues why this might have happened apart from the obvious "its expensive crap rather than cheap crap."?

If I can identify the type of alternator I will see if I can repair it.

Or maybe just buy several cheap crap alternators that last until just out of warranty, I can get 3 or 4 for the same price

Neil

[NeilR]

Expensive crap thats made from the cheap crap parts - chinese diodes & regulator !!!!.

I use an A127 55AMP (Land Rover) myself, easily identitable & changeable parts. Also available in 75AMP.

[Seaking]

you could try Harwood rewinds fir parts

[Seaking]

for parts

[flying farmer]

Update on the alternator situation.

I contacted E J Ward the day after posting the start of this thread explaining the situation.

They forwarded my email to WOSP (they don't publish an email to contact them direct), and WOSP replied asking me to post the alternator back to them for inspection with a covering letter.

Didn't hear anything for a couple of weeks so asked Wards to get in touch again.

Wards replied that WOSP had inspected the alternator and the rectifier was faulty and it would be repaired and sent back to me.

This afternoon the alternator came back in a box marked Warranty, so I am really only out of pocket by the cost of posting the alternator back to WOSP.

Top marks to EJ Ward for their help, and to WOSP for fixing the alternator even though it waited for the warranty to expire before failing.

Neil

[Goldstar]

Update on the alternator situation.

I contacted E J Ward the day after posting the start of this thread explaining the situation.

They forwarded my email to WOSP (they don't publish an email to contact them direct), and WOSP replied asking me to post the alternator back to them for inspection with a covering letter.

Didn't hear anything for a couple of weeks so asked Wards to get in touch again.

Wards replied that WOSP had inspected the alternator and the rectifier was faulty and it would be repaired and sent back to me.

This afternoon the alternator came back in a box marked Warranty, so I am really only out of pocket by the cost of posting the alternator back to WOSP.

Top marks to EJ Ward for their help, and to WOSP for fixing the alternator even though it waited for the warranty to expire before failing.

Neil

Great news. Well done WOSP and Wards

[mike@thenook]

Always good to hear of proper service - top marks!

[Tdafforn]

Good outcome. But I would triple check your earth's. I blew a few alternators and had some weird voltages.. then discovered a loose earth and things have been fine since.
tim

[Tonywhite]

I get original Lucas alternators reconditioned and sell for £60 for 18acr

[flying farmer]

Good outcome. But I would triple check your email earth's. I blew a few alternators and had some weird voltages.. then discovered a loose earth and things have been fine since.
tim

I think a bit of predictive text might have crept into your message as I have never earthed an email in my life!

However, checking the earths is a good idea as the lights are flickering on the old alternator (all the lights including main beam) which I assumed was a voltage regulator fault, the charging voltage was also too high.
Swapping to the WOSP alternator cured the problem, though it did have a new main live feed to the junction post on the bulkhead (its a Mk1) as the WOSP is a single main wire. This did allow me to leave the old alternator wires in place which came in useful for refitting the old one in the interim.

I have recently bought 2 voltage regulators off ebay as my other Stag suffered a voltage regulator failure a few months ago. I like to keep a spare alternator in stock as it is without doubt the most regular failure on all my cars.
Neil

[flying farmer]

I get original Lucas alternators reconditioned and sell for £60 for 18acr

I must admit I have given up buying the cheap Chinese "Lucas" alternators as the quality of some of them is truly dreadful. The last one I bought had an off centre pulley and gritty bearings, the replacement had an armature that was catching on the stator. I ended up building a good one out of the two before sending back the piece of junk with 3 faults to the supplier (fortunately they sent me the replacement before I returned the first one).
The last alternator I bought was a reconditioned original Lucas which I think is on my Mk2, and that one is ok so far.

Neil

[Tdafforn]

I think a bit of predictive text might have crept into your message as I have never earthed an email in my life!

However, checking the earths is a good idea as the lights are flickering on the old alternator (all the lights including main beam) which I assumed was a voltage regulator fault, the charging voltage was also too high.
Swapping to the WOSP alternator cured the problem, though it did have a new main live feed to the junction post on the bulkhead (its a Mk1) as the WOSP is a single main wire. This did allow me to leave the old alternator wires in place which came in useful for refitting the old one in the interim.

I have recently bought 2 voltage regulators off ebay as my other Stag suffered a voltage regulator failure a few months ago. I like to keep a spare alternator in stock as it is without doubt the most regular failure on all my cars.
Neil

Yep prodictive text issue.. Have re-edited!

[DJT]

Coincidentally the current edition of Practical Classics (May 24) has an in depth Weekend Workshop on testing, stripping and rebuilding a classic Lucas alternator.

[Mike J]

I am on my second E J Ward Powerlite 55 AMP Alternator . Similar problems. Ignition light not going out, though seemingly good current going in. First one was out of warranty though the issue was raised within warranty. Stupidly bought another on condition the original would be returned. NEVER RETURNED. Despite chasing. Have the same problem with second alternator. Cant be bothered dealing with E J WARDS from now on. Can anyone suggest a reputable company that I can buy an alternator from.

[DJT]

Have you tried contacting the original suppliers? https://www.powerlite-units.com/

I found them very helpful when I was having teething problems with one of their starter motors, even though I bought it through another supplier.

They state "3-year warranty on starters & alternators"

https://www.powerlite-units.com/alternators/rac056.html