Lude Generation

So digging further.
Replaced the battery brand new one
Bushes in alternator checked all okay
Belt not slipping and fuses checked full continuity on main ones
Earth straps taken off cleaned up.

Running out of ideas

Which alternator is fitted?

double check the main fuses and fusible links - faulty ones will check ok for continuity, but may give out under heat/load if they are cracked (common issue on old VW fusebox fusible links).

I'd double check the green multiplug and connectors, reseat it a few times etc. Is the alternator correctly grounded? if someone has painted the brackets that mount it to the block, you might not be getting much metal on metal action ( )

Scott560 wrote: ↑

Sat May 29, 2021 6:49 pm

Which alternator is fitted?

double check the main fuses and fusible links - faulty ones will check ok for continuity, but may give out under heat/load if they are cracked (common issue on old VW fusebox fusible links).

I'd double check the green multiplug and connectors, reseat it a few times etc. Is the alternator correctly grounded? if someone has painted the brackets that mount it to the block, you might not be getting much metal on metal action ( )

Oh yeah, I relocated my battery to trunk and had basically every surface in the engine bay painted. Earth was so bad that I was getting below 10V in the engine bay. Cleaned everything up and it worked as a charm.

I'm trying to think what is the main earth point of the alternator to the rest of the car.

I'm guessing it's the gearbox earth strap (alternator -> bracket -> block -> gearbox casing (via contact and bolt heads on gearbox housing) -> strap to batt neg terminal.

If the batt terminal , strap or mount to gearbox was poor, you would have trouble starting. So it could be between alternator and bracket, bracket and block, or block and gearbox. Is the gearbox painted at all?

As a test, when the car is running and the voltage is low / not charging, run a cable from the batt neg terminal to the alternator housing (for the love of god don't get mangled) - if the voltage goes up, then its an alternator earthing issue.

sol-lude wrote: ↑

Sat May 29, 2021 2:39 pm

So digging further.
Replaced the battery brand new one
Bushes in alternator checked all okay
Belt not slipping and fuses checked full continuity on main ones
Earth straps taken off cleaned up.

Running out of ideas

best idea in my opinion is to get someone else with a 5g lude that's close to you and ask if they can pop over & then start comparing engine bay's for differences (in case there is something set up wrong, missing etc.) and maybe start swapping parts if possible too

I was thinking 'if you are local' , but then i saw its in scotland

quite a few scottish members!

Cheers Lads, im away to remake the main battery / box earth and i have ordered a brand new alternator off Auto Doc so should be here in 3-5 working years

I will get it sorted i have a few spare fuses i will swap over too.

New Alternator, new battery running 14.68v whilst running so yeah just my luck buying 2nd hand broken alternator...at least the copper will get me some cash

Glad you've got it sorted mate