Help

[paintz]

I have a problem with the charging from my alternator to the battery. When i got the car i had this problem so took it to see matt at Camden. He fitted a secondhand alternator and tested the charge. After this outlay of $150 bucks and the petrol the battery failed to hold charge so had to replace battery. Another outlay of 135 bucks. Since then been fine. Get in car and battery dead so i take leads off and charge using battery charger over night. Car ok. Now battery gone dead again. Does anyone know where else i should look to find out what is not working. Going to charge battery again but need to make the alternator charge the battery. Really dont want to have to outlay even more dollar on this.

[mrlex]

Hey mate, is there a battery light on your dash? The same thing was happening to me. The battery light should turn on with ignition then go out, which means it is charging when the engine is running. I ended up changing the circuit board on my clocks. Something to do with the blue lead from the alternator to the battery. Pain in the arse so I understand where your coming from. Also giving it a rev on start up seemed to kick the alternator into charge mode, but as I said mine was all because the battery light on the dash.

[GRN_VAGN]

i had a dead battery 5 mornings in a row in my golf, turned out i had a faulty brake sensor on the Master cylinder that was keeping my brakes lights on faintly. only noticed it when i had car reversed in driveway and i looked out of a night..

[paintz]

lucky sydneys got some hills!!! Ill have a look over her tonight and check back but from what i remember the light on the dash not showing. Anyone know anyone who is good at doing a full rewire upgrade as car going for engine rebuild and respray in 2 months and might as well renew all the electrics. Im northern beaches based.

[mikinoz]

Possibly the voltage regulator on the alternator is draining it? MK1 electrics suck.

[Jarred]

I'd leave the battery fully charged up one night, then disconnect everything from the battery. to double check that the battery is holding charge fine on it's own. (or go to the place you bought it, and have them double check/test it for you)

Then start looking for shorts, things being left on, open circuits etc etc. earths too

I can't even begin to imagine how much a rewire would cost! $$$$$

[mrlex]

Do you have a voltage tester..? Test the battery at night, then in the morning. Check the battery before start up, then whilst running.
Can also check the voltage from the alternator too. Give us a bell, I'll bring one down if you don't have one.

[Campaign]

the thought that comes to mind – make sure the alternator has good connection to earth/negative terminal of the battery

[roccodingo]

Make sure the earth srap from the alternator to the engine block is not broken also.

The blue wire is the exciter from the dash circuit to the alternator, chances are if the dash light aint working then the alternator's not charging. Ruinning a meter across it will verify this.

[paintz]

Ok she started this morning but turned over slowly. Alex ill come up to you this time. Where can i buy some fat earth/negative wires from as they are looking very tired.

Update!!!

Had a look at the earth wires and they have a couple of spades with connections coming from top of the suspension strut passenger side and from cables coming from fuse box. If i replace the earth cable with a modern one there is no where for the spade connections to go. Anyone recommend what to do in this instance??