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[RobG]

Hi, Purchased new battery about 6 months ago other knacked. Haven`t used car for a few days and battery totally flat. When driving at night if I switch rear screen or heated seats on ignition light glows faintly. I`ve taken the following readings and could do with some advice please.
IDLE=12.96-99v
2000RPM=1301-02v
FULL LOAD @ IDLE=11.99-12.02v
FULL LOAD @ 2000RPM=12.09-12.11v
I`ve let it run for 20mins and the earth connection on the battery doesn`t heat up. Would it be the alternator and if so are they on TC with VX or is it better to source elsewhere. :-/ :-/

[Marks DTM Calib]

Sounds very much like the alternator......which is unusual as they are pretty bomb proof.

[RobG]

Any way of checking alternator Mark or do my readings tend to confirm what you suspect

[FRE07962128]

Hi, Purchased new battery about 6 months ago other knacked. Haven`t used car for a few days and battery totally flat. When driving at night if I switch rear screen or heated seats on ignition light glows faintly. I`ve taken the following readings and could do with some advice please.
IDLE=12.96-99v
2000RPM=1301-02v
FULL LOAD @ IDLE=11.99-12.02v
FULL LOAD @ 2000RPM=12.09-12.11v
I`ve let it run for 20mins and the earth connection on the battery doesn`t heat up. Would it be the alternator and if so are they on TC with VX or is it better to source elsewhere. :-/ :-/

It has happened only once to me, but I was driving along and suddenly the radio cut out, the lights went, and then the engine stopped.    When the AA turned up it was found to be the alternator which was no longer supplying power to the  system, so the battery took on the full load without any chance of replenishment and then gave up exhausted!

So in your case a similar thing is happening and my conclusion is that it is the alternator.  Just check first though that no leads have come loose.

Best of luck

[Entwood]

If you can .. try the checks again with another battery, if you can borrow one... it COULD be that the battery is FUBAR and has internally shorted, this would also give the voltages you show as the alternator is desperately trying to build up charge in a knacked battery.

If the voltages are the same with another battery it confirms the alternator is pretty unhappy ..

HTH

[Grumpy]

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1153772945

Whenever I've had this problem, on previous cars, not the Omega,
I've found that a clean up of the corrosion on the contacts inside
the alternator has cured the problem.

So before buying a new alternator follow Marks DTM Calib's guide,
in the link above, to sorting out the Omega's alternator.

It'll cost you nothing, and has always worked for me.

[RobG]

If you can .. try the checks again with another battery, if you can borrow one... it COULD be that the battery is FUBAR and has internally shorted, this would also give the voltages you show as the alternator is desperately trying to build up charge in a knacked battery.

If the voltages are the same with another battery it confirms the alternator is pretty unhappy ..

HTH
I`ll try that tomorrow

[RobG]

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1153772945

Whenever I've had this problem, on previous cars, not the Omega,
I've found that a clean up of the corrosion on the contacts inside
the alternator has cured the problem.

So before buying a new alternator follow Marks DTM Calib's guide,
in the link above, to sorting out the Omega's alternator.

It'll cost you nothing, and has always worked for me.

Thanks for the tip. I`ll test with another battery first then if readings aren`t any better will fllow Mark`s guide.

[RobG]

If the alternator is FUBAR are they available on TC and does anyone know the part number and the app. cost. :question

[Marks DTM Calib]

If the alternator is FUBAR are they available on TC and does anyone know the part number and the app. cost. :question

Yes, they are a TC item........not sure on prices as I dont have my book handy.

I know there are two types, a 100amp and a 120amp one for the 4 pots.

[RobG]

Silly question Mark. How do I know whether it`s 100 or 120 amp fitted. Is there anything stamped on alternator body. :question

[Marks DTM Calib]

Silly question Mark. How do I know whether it`s 100 or 120 amp fitted. Is there anything stamped on alternator body. :question

It should have the rating printed onto the black cover at the rear of the unit......given the age of yours it may well be the 100 amp unit which is about a ton.....or 140 ish for the 120amp part.

[TheBoy]

£85/136 + VAT for 100A/120A on TC

[RobG]

Hi, Purchased new battery about 6 months ago other knacked. Haven`t used car for a few days and battery totally flat. When driving at night if I switch rear screen or heated seats on ignition light glows faintly. I`ve taken the following readings and could do with some advice please.
IDLE=12.96-99v
2000RPM=1301-02v
FULL LOAD @ IDLE=11.99-12.02v
FULL LOAD @ 2000RPM=12.09-12.11v
I`ve let it run for 20mins and the earth connection on the battery doesn`t heat up. Would it be the alternator and if so are they on TC with VX or is it better to source elsewhere. :-/ :-/

Removed alternator and followed Mark`s guide re; contact points on brush/regulator assembly. Re-fitted and now have the following readings.
IDLE=14.03-06v
2000RPM=14.05-08v
FULL LOAD @ IDLE=13.09-13.18
FULL LOAD @2000RPM=13.15.

The clean seems to have done the trick judging by the improved figures.  

[Grumpy]

Nice one, RobG.  

As said before, it's always worked for me. Folk are too quick, nowadays,
to replace items instead of repairing them.

I suppose it's a symptom of today's throw away society.