rh203 Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 What the hell is up with my car. Been through two alternators and its still not fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defcon5 Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 What caused the second alternator to break? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rh203 Posted March 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 No idea but something is seriously up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defcon5 Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 Was it a new one? where was it fitted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rh203 Posted March 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 Was it a new one? where was it fitted?One that was fitted less than a year ago died to begin with. Then a new one was fitted around a week ago...it died within a week - faulty. Now there is another new one on but now the car intermittently drops power to the engine, lights go off and on, warning lights come on, beeps etc etc.Could this be the ECU / could it have caused the alternator issues (or vice versa)Im looking to get it into the German and French car specialist in Byker (Centerville garage) to get it on the VAGCOM.Anyone else had anything similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasperGTI Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 Sounds like a dodgy earth connection, alternator not charging the battery due to a dodgy earth circuit.Check the gearbox earth bonding lead. And the battery negative to chassis leads, also check the negative wire on the alternator to earth if it has one.John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rh203 Posted March 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 It definitely charges now... Checked it tonight with my black n decker charger and tester. Could it be an ecu? Ive lowered it also..is this a common problem from bashing it on the road? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasperGTI Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 Still sounds like a power problem to me.I think claireyfairy had an issue like this before. Turned out to be a corroded gearbox earth strap. or dodgy earth strap.Check yours, its on the front of the gearbox and attaches to the chassis leg. Without it all hell will break loose, take it off, wire brush on the connecting points and then refit it, See if it changes anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rh203 Posted March 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 Do you (or anyone) have a pic? Sorry for my stupidity but why does the gearbox need to be earthed? Surely its part of the engine...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver! Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 Engine and gearbox are insultated from the chasis by the mountings, so the earth would, well, earth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rh203 Posted March 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 That makes sense...but why does the gearbox need to be earthed as it is? It has no electronics...right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasperGTI Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 The gearbox is attached to the engine.By earthing it there, you earth it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ry203 Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 so if it is attached to the engine and the engine is earthed......why earth the gearbox? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaperWeight1 Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 so if it is attached to the engine and the engine is earthed......why earth the gearbox?It's not the box that's earthed it's whatever's going to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rh203 Posted March 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 You mean sensors etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaperWeight1 Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 You mean sensors etc?No, it's just an earth for the loom or part of it. What's confusing about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasperGTI Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 Everything is earthed in a car. For example, the starter motor which is attached to the gearbox, the casing has to be earthed. Rather than using a large earth strap, you use one common earth, i.e earthing the gearbox casing.It you were to follow the earth wires in the loom for the car, you would fine that also will attach to an earth point. You will also find that some sensors will use the engine as an earth rather than using a separate earth wire.Also this is a safety matter too, for example if you have something like the ignition coil, im not sure what it in in cars but in our aircraft the igniter can produce 25000 volts at a very low ampage. so say the ignition coil was jumping to the engine or to the gearbox somehow. If it was not earthed, and you were to touch the part you would get a shock as you complete the earth and make the circuit.I hope this can explain it, im not really in a good explaining things mood. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaperWeight1 Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 10-20,000 volts is around average for a coil on a car as far as I remember reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rh203 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Garage has found a small fuse box the engine bay that appears to have overheated and is about to go. Not certain which it is as they were digging a wiring diagram out but getting a new one fitted. Its on the near side if that helps ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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