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[bubble1973]

Hiya again. I've been having a problem with my 2001 2.2 cd auto.
When im driving in the night, the battery light glows really dimly. It gets brighter when i put more things on, ie wipers, air con and then wont restart when i turn off the engine, so it is competly draining the battery.
I am using the car as a private hire vehicle so as well as the usual things, i have a radio, meter and a sat nav almost always plugged in.
Can i get a more powerful alternator as i really need to keep the air con on when working to keep the windows from misting up (hint to everybody, dont bother with rain x anti mist, useless!!). At the moment i am having to keep the engine running all night so as not to get stranded.
Many thanks in advance.

[Auto Addict]

Have a read of this:-

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1225724099

and this:-

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

[bubble1973]

Thanks for the quick reply. Not sure if there is a problem with the alternator as when i use the car in the day, with no lights, wipers etc on it seems fine. I just dont thing the alternator I've got just doesnt seem to be up to all the electric systems on at the same time, so was wondering if there was a more powerful/ upgraded one i could replace mine with?

[Abiton]

Thanks for the quick reply. Not sure if there is a problem with the alternator as when i use the car in the day, with no lights, wipers etc on it seems fine. I just dont thing the alternator I've got just doesnt seem to be up to all the electric systems on at the same time, so was wondering if there was a more powerful/ upgraded one i could replace mine with?

Follow the links supplied and find out.  I bet you'll find there is something wrong, and it'll probably be an easy fix. 

[Andy B]

Thanks for the quick reply. Not sure if there is a problem with the alternator as when i use the car in the day, with no lights, wipers etc on it seems fine. I just dont thing the alternator I've got just doesnt seem to be up to all the electric systems on at the same time, so was wondering if there was a more powerful/ upgraded one i could replace mine with?

There's an upgrade police spec, but your alternator should be easily capable of powering what you're asking of it. I'd say you need to get yours looked at. 

[Brikhead]

...i need to keep the air con on...to keep the windows from misting up.

Maybe worth changing your pollen filter.

[Kevin Wood]

In addition, I would say check the security of the grounding strap between engine and chassis. Run the car with plenty of electrical load and see if any connections get hot. Check the voltage between alternator casing and chassis is not more than 0.5 volts or so.

If all seems well, it could be a failing alternator (single diode failure in the rectifier, for example). I would expect this to be evident in the charging voltage under load though.

Kevin

[Kevin Wood]

.. and the alternator is more than capable of running the loads you mention. Something is not right. Run through the checks in the links posted and report back what you find.

Kevin

[RobG]

Do as Kevin suggests. Odds on it`s your voltage regulator, about £12

[bubble1973]

Went to a friends garage and got these results with a multimeter. Hope they make sense!
Battery without engine running = 12.52
Engine idling = 13.65
Engine idlling with full load = 12.35
Engine fast idling(2500 revs) = 13.84
Engine fast idling(2500 revs) with full load = 12.52

When you say check the security of the earth strap, am i simply checking that the bolts are tight?

[cem_devecioglu]

mine 97 model (alternator re-conditioned), engine idling 14.4 volt
xenons and climate working 13.9 volt (idle not 2500 rpm ) ..

I dont think your voltage is adequate.. :-/

in my other car (clit I had a similiar situation, changed the alternator completely but still cant solve , then we connected a direct cable from alternator to battery positive terminal..

[bubble1973]

Sorry, i forgot to mention that i first noticed the battery light coming on really dimly a few months ago, whilst using the heated rear window, but not to the extent that it was causing the car not to start. I swapped it with an identical alternator from a friends omega that was being scrapped, and still the light came on, really dimly. My friend stated that he had never noticed a light coming on when he was using his car.

[Kevin Wood]

I dont think your voltage is adequate..

Agreed.

Assuming it's not the battery positive terminal coming loose in its' crimp, or an insecure grounding strap, I'd say the alternator is faulty.

Kevin

[cem_devecioglu]

Sorry, i forgot to mention that i first noticed the battery light coming on really dimly a few months ago, whilst using the heated rear window, but not to the extent that it was causing the car not to start. I swapped it with an identical alternator from a friends omega that was being scrapped, and still the light came on, really dimly. My friend stated that he had never noticed a light coming on when he was using his car.

probably your problems arise after the engine become hot.. clean all battery terminals, connections, ground connection but if you cant solve test with a direct cable from alternator to battery.. if the voltage goes up your cabling must be the problem..

[bubble1973]

If a direct cable does seem to fix it, can i use the cable as a permenant solution?