Alternator connector fault

[Dubris]

2004 Dispatch, The battery charge warning light is on continuously, battery is good, on checking the alternator I found this connector, shouldn't this be a pair of connections, the yellow is good but looks as though the green has been cut off ?

[xantia_v6]

These alternators have only one control wire, so nothing wrong there. The warning light is controlled by the engine ECU, so there may be a relevant fault code present.

Try running with the alternator control wire unplugged, it should go into a backup mode and start charging. This will cause the engine ECU to log a different fault code.

[wheeler]

Yes completely normal to have only a single IND wire on this vehicle however a Dispatch of this age wont have anything fancy like ECU controlled alternator. Goes straight to the bulb on the dash.
What is the voltage at the battery with the engine running & again if you measure it on the main + connection on the alternator & put the earth of your meter straight on the alternator casing?

[shtu]

It is indeed a single wire, and it does look like a wire is snipped off. Alll normal.

Interestingly, I had a fault with that connector on a Berlingo just this past week, it was logging faults,

P065A Alternator mechanical fault
P0A3B Alternator temperature fault
P0A1A Alternator communication fault
U1401 Alternator LIN network.

Using a pick to tighten the pin of the connector resolved it.

[Dubris]

Thanks for all the information guys, looks like I've got some checking to do.

[Dubris]

Hi Wheeler, I did those voltage checks, it was 11.1v between alternator + terminal and the casing and 11.5v across the battery both with the engine running. Does this make sense to you ?

[wheeler]

With the engine running & your voltmeter on the battery give the metal casing a couple of sharp taps on the body of the alternator & see if it starts charging. Just sounds like the alternator itself has failed assuming the belt is correctly tensioned.

[Dubris]

Thanks again, I'll try that tomorrow, sounds like fun !

[Dubris]

Supplementary question: If, when the engine is running I remove the connection to the positive battery terminal should it continue running powered by the alternator ? ( it stopped)

[wheeler]

If the alternator is working then yes the engine should stay running however its not recommended to do this as the battery acts as a kind of filter absorbing spikes.
Anyway it sounds like the alternator is not charging so its currently running on battery, i expect it will cut out if you disconnect it.

[Dubris]

Thanks yet again wheeler, I have tried it very briefly and the engine did stop so it looks like it's time to go to the Alternator shop !

[Habbe]

It is indeed a single wire, and it does look like a wire is snipped off. Alll normal.

Interestingly, I had a fault with that connector on a Berlingo just this past week, it was logging faults,

P065A Alternator mechanical fault
P0A3B Alternator temperature fault
P0A1A Alternator communication fault
U1401 Alternator LIN network.

Using a pick to tighten the pin of the connector resolved it.

I have had exact the same codes for a long time on my Citroen C5 2012.
You haven't got any new codes on the alternator again??