[ronniescot]

Hi, I have a 2019 diesel Titanium and the "charging system service now" light came on. The battery took about 1A when I put it on the charger and overnight reduced to a trickle as expected. I then drove 20 miles with the headlights on, put it back on the charger and it was taking about 1.5A.

This is a massive problem because we are in Glasgow for Christmas and have to drive back to Nottingham and even with the lights off I don't think the car will make it.

The car has 37K on the clock and it seems a bit early for an alternator to fail. Is there any chance it is a fuse or something simple? Suggestions gratefully received.

 

[Mondygeek]

Do you have access to forscan?
If not, I'm only in Derby I'm happy to plug it in and take a look for you

 

[mondy zetecs]

A good alternator should be putting out 14.4v down to 13.8v if not working properly but still charging, use hidden dashboard if not got a voltmeter handy.

 

[ronniescot]

A good alternator should be putting out 14.4v down to 13.8v if not working properly but still charging, use hidden dashboard if not got a voltmeter handy.

I went and bought a multimeter and after overnight charging the battery was producing 12.58V. I started the car and it went down to 12.1 at the battery terminals. I think this means that nothing is being supplied by the alternator. I can touch the body of the alternator to get one of the contacts but the positive terminal does not seem to be accessible.

 

[mondy zetecs]

Sounds like alternator dead unless like you've said fuses or wiring connectors loose .

 

[Mondygeek]

Definitely dead alternator or snapped belt

 

[ronniescot]

Definitely dead alternator or snapped belt

I agree. I found the positive terminal on the alternator and there was continuity with the battery terminal. Same with the alternator body and the negative battery terminal.

I was tempted to try to drive it from Glasgow back home to Nottingham but even with the lights off I probably would not make it even if I bought a spare battery to change in along the way. The trouble is that I suspect that when it dies, it will die suddenly and I don't fancy breaking down in the fast lane of a smart motorway.

I've got AA but it's a real ordeal. They call the recovery service "Relay" for good reason. Last time this happened it took them about 3 hours after my initial call to get the car hooked up and on tow. The guy drove me 50 miles up the motor way, pulled into a service station and said it was as far as he was allowed to travel from his depot. He drives off and you wait for the next AA guy to show up and it takes 20 minutes to rig the tow gear, off you go and you might get 80 miles closer to your destination if you are lucky. And the 'relay' continues.

 

[mondy zetecs]

I went to watch Liverpool play in1978, saw battery light on got as far as outside Liverpool before it died AA fitted a used alternator to get me home.

 

[ronniescot]

I went to watch Liverpool play in1978, saw battery light on got as far as outside Liverpool before it died AA fitted a used alternator to get me home.

That was the good old days when the engine bay was a place you could hide at a pinch.

This 2019 car car has diesel pre heaters, diesel vapor heaters, servo this and that and god knows what else. Looking at the alternator, I can't even name the things that would have to be disassembled to reach it. In many ways I would prefer my old Mk3 Duratec 2.0 Petrol automatic. The seat was comfortable and the handling was infinitely better than the MK5.

 

[ronniescot]

Do you have access to forscan?
If not, I'm only in Derby I'm happy to plug it in and take a look for you

That's very kind of you. If I get the car back home I might take you up on that.

Ronnie.

 

[Mondygeek]

Depending where you are in Nottingham I'll come out to you. I can even replace the alternator if that's the route you want to go

 

[ronniescot]

Just an update. I think that the alternator is failing rather than failed. While I was away my niece drove the car from Glasgow to Edinburgh and back with the battery light on. When I heard this I did some more testing. With the battery fully charged and resting it sits at 12.5V. When I start the car it sits at 12.5V. However, if I rev the engine to 2000 rpm even briefly, it goes up to 13.4V. It seems that you have to rev the engine after starting to kick in the charging system. These modern cars are fiendishly complicated. Anyway, that explains why the car made it to Edinburgh and back. Of course there could be a fault in the engine management but 13.4V for the alternator seems low judging by what was said here.

 

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

Try adding different loads and see how the voltage reacts. You may find the voltage increases with
a certain amount of power being drawn like the headlights but anything pulling more power may cause
the voltage to plummet.

Maybe a sweet spot you can use until its replaced.

Daughters KA has moments where it decides it does not want to charge but the alternator is perfect.
I simply put a voltmeter in the car and said if thats below 12.2 we need to charge it.

 

[ronniescot]

I managed to drive the car back to Nottingham after all. On arrival the battery was at 12.4V resting and still at 13V running with just the lights. It drops a little with the window heaters on. I suppose that the alternator is failing. Can anyone with a similar car (2019 150hp Duratorq) let me know what the voltage on the dash diagnostics or a meter?

Finally, does anyone know if there is a separate voltage regulator. Perhaps unlikely, but I thought I'd ask because the alternator is pricy.

 

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

13.8v would be a standard charge without the additional smart charge/boost that would take it to approx 14.4v
and even higher with a battery that has a low voltage.

A duff battery could prevent the charge voltage increasing though.

Anything less than 13.8v is an issue.

 

[ronniescot]

Hi Guys, you have been very helpful. I have one last question. Eurocarparts are showing 2 alternators for my vehicle. How do I tell which one I need?

Lucas Alternator | Euro Car Parts

Lucas Alternator at the lowest UK prices from Euro Car Parts UK’s No.1 for Car Accessories, Car Styling & Car Care. Buy today Online, In store or by Phone + Branches Nationwide – Next Day UK Free Delivery.

www.eurocarparts.com

 

[ronniescot]

Sorry, that link does not work properly. The choices have different amp output.

 

[mondy zetecs]

Europe, Mondeo CNG 2014-, 4 Electrical, 41402 Electrical.Alternator And Mountings, 4140205B Alternator And Mountings - Catcar.info
Enter the vin no. to see if its 225 or180 amp

 

[ronniescot]

Thanks for the suggestion but it could not find my VIN number. I phoned a garage to ask a price and they said they could not tell which one it was till they removed it and got the numbers off it.

I found a youtube video showing that the alternator replacement is not as difficult as it looks at first site. You can do it from under the bonnet if you remove the fuel filter housing, which is pretty easy. The only tools I lack are an E6 Tox socket and a steel pin to lock the belt tensioner. The letter is the most difficult to find the right size.

 

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

VIN etched into the windows and visible at the lower edge of the windscreen and the VIN tag on the door post.