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[VX1]

Hi all,
I am now off my hols. I will tell you little story;

Got down to Pevensey, Normans Bay camp site, pulled into the car park to sign in and turned the car off. On my return to the car the battery was dead, wouldn't start, called the RAC they came out within 15 mins (the quickest they have ever been) and he found the fault.
The alternator wasn't charging the battery, the main earth lead seemed to be at fault, so he made a temp earth strap from the top of the engine to the negative terminal of the battery, battery now slowly charging.

He told me to leave the car running for at least half an hour that should do the trick, so I left it for the whole time whilst sorting the caravan out and setting up. Turned the car off left it for an hour started it again and it starts fine. Now he said there could be a possibilty that the alternator isn't charging the battery enough and to get the chrging system checked. My question is even though the battery is now being charged do I still need to replace the alternator or do I need to replce the earth strap to the battery?

Q2) I also noticed when the bonnet was up that the power sterring pump pulley isn't going round as it should, it moves but no enough. I still have power steering but it does seem heavy at times. The pulley goes round but it stutter's. I know I will have to change the pump but how?

Paul  

[Kevin Wood]

I'd be inclined to check the positive battery lead as well. Does it get hot near the terminal? Quite often the crimp connection here gets loose.

What voltage are you seeing across the battery at a fast idle?

What does the voltage drop to if you switch on a few loads?

Does the battery light glow at all when running?

If you've got a problem driving the PAS pump maybe the aux belt is slipping and it's affecting the drive to the alternator too? Is the belt reasonably tight and not cracked or glazed too badly on the back of the belt?

Kevin

[VX1]

I'd be inclined to check the positive battery lead as well. Does it get hot near the terminal? Quite often the crimp connection here gets loose.

What voltage are you seeing across the battery at a fast idle?

What does the voltage drop to if you switch on a few loads?

Does the battery light glow at all when running?

If you've got a problem driving the PAS pump maybe the aux belt is slipping and it's affecting the drive to the alternator too? Is the belt reasonably tight and not cracked or glazed too badly on the back of the belt?

Kevin

The drive belt is tight but it is glazed and cracked but it is driving the other pulley's no problem just the PAS pulley is not turning as it should. As said earlier in the post the steering is heavier than it should be as the pulley IS moving but stuttering. I don't know if fitting a new belt will solve the problem.

The battery voltage across the battery is ok even when on load, the battery light is not glowing at all. Since the RAC guy made a temp earth lead the car has been fine in starting which points me really to a new earth strap more than a new alternator.

Paul  

[Kevin Wood]

Hi Paul,

It might be worth removing the aux. belt and having a feel of the PAS pump pulley so see if the bearings have any play in them or if the pump feels graunchy at all.

It does sound like the earth strap is the problem, although I was concerned that the RAC guy said it was charging "slowly". Maybe just my interpretation but I took that to mean the alternator output was low. If you have 14 - 14.5 v across the battery when running it's fine.

Kevin

[VX1]

Hi Paul,

It might be worth removing the aux. belt and having a feel of the PAS pump pulley so see if the bearings have any play in them or if the pump feels graunchy at all.

It does sound like the earth strap is the problem, although I was concerned that the RAC guy said it was charging "slowly". Maybe just my interpretation but I took that to mean the alternator output was low. If you have 14 - 14.5 v across the battery when running it's fine.

Kevin

Sorry Kevin may be me not explaining properly, the RAC guy said it was charging slowly NOW after he made a temp earth strap from the top of the engine to the negative battery terminal, as the alternator wasn't putting any charge into the battery whilst driving along. It first happened at peese pottage services when I couldn't start the car so jumped it with a booster pack and started no probs so thought it should charge whilst continuing with the journey BUT it didn't.

Paul  

[Kevin Wood]

No problem.

Kevin

[VX1]

Checked the earth strap, which sits behind the air con pulley, and thats seems very floppy and not stiff as it should? As to the PAS pulley I have checked for wear in the bearings and seems ok and it didn't feel graunchy either but I did notice that there is a bit on the front of the pulley that seems to be free wheeling, this is what is moving gradually not the pulley itself, but eventually it catches up, and spins intime if you like, with the pulley as well. So if the earth strap is suppose to be stiff then this is all that need to be replaced and all is well.

Paul  

[Kevin Wood]

Could it be that you're looking at the air con pulley? (bottom right as you look at the front of the engine)

The PAS pulley is one piece but the air con pulley has a clutch that engages the front part with the pulley itself. Could be that the clutch is dragging a little. The PAS is the top right hand pulley.

Sounds like it would be best to replace the earth strap to the engine as it doesn't sound in great condition. At least it's a cheap fix.

Kevin

[VX1]

Could it be that you're looking at the air con pulley? (bottom right as you look at the front of the engine)

The PAS pulley is one piece but the air con pulley has a clutch that engages the front part with the pulley itself. Could be that the clutch is dragging a little. The PAS is the top right hand pulley.

Sounds like it would be best to replace the earth strap to the engine as it doesn't sound in great condition. At least it's a cheap fix.

Kevin

You could be right Kevin! It is the bottom right pulley I was looking at. Silly me looking at the wrong pump
Could I get the replacement earth strap from VX and would it be the same?
Paul  

[Kevin Wood]

I've never looked at the earth strap so not sure if it's worth going to the stealers. May be able to just get a length of copper braid from a motor factors.

Kevin

[JasonH]

The earth strap doen't need to be stiff just intact with good clean solid connections at both ends.

Does sound like you've been looking at the aircon pump (which has an internal clutch) and engages and disengages as required.