Alternator gremlin..

Alternator gremlin..

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Discussion

Tiny Chim Driver

Original Poster:

2 posts

22 months

Saturday 24th June 2023
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Hello one and all - hoping you help a lass out! My 99 Chim suffered an alternator failure last year, which was replaced and all was good.

She behaved for the first few months of the year and then I had a dead battery. I assumed it was down to the fact it was due a change and running it completely dead when the alternator had failed had probably stuffed it up, and tbf she had been stood for longer than usual.

New battery fitted, and checked that pesky 100Amp fuse again but I still can’t get it charging? I have had a multimeter on the alternator and it’s only putting out less 0.8 so obvs not going to do any good.

Am I chasing clouds suspecting it might be a bad earth? The battery warning light was previously on but is now out (even when I changed the bulb and there is definitely current running to it) so little unsure as to why the light would be out too, given that all the previous threads seem to imply the lamp would be on when the alternator is not playing ball.

I am by no means an expert so would be happy to receive idiot proof instructions but would like to see if I can resolve the issue myself before having to drive her to a specialist on the battery or have her uplifted!

Thank you folks!

Belle427

10,219 posts

245 months

Saturday 24th June 2023
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The battery warning light forms an integral part of the charging circuit so I’d look at that first.
You should find a small brown/yellow wire on the back of the alternator, this should have 12 volts present on it with ignition on and when grounded will bring on the dash warning light.
I’d try that first but it will rely on the engine having a good ground so that’s another thing to bare in mind when testing.

McGee_22

7,324 posts

191 months

Saturday 24th June 2023
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Nothing to do with TVR's but I recently traced a frustrating non-charging problem on my car to the main earthing strap that goes from the engine to the chassis. I would expect the TVR to have an earth lead from the chassis to the engine as well so worth checking is isn't frayed, broken or has poor connections.

s p a c e m a n

11,164 posts

160 months

Sunday 25th June 2023
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Blowing the fuse for the dashboard lights also stops the alternator charging, but I think that makes the warning light come on. I agree that you need to investigate the warning light