AAAARGH! More electrical woes.

[iantek]

Any advice on the following electrical woes would be great. I have a 1.6 1993 Eunos.

I had a problem with the battery going flat, all the electrical systems going slow or conking out eventually. It did the same again after i re-charged and refitted the battery. Suspected the alternator and the mechanic i took it too put a multimeter on and the car wasn't charging the battery (reading twelve when it should be between forteen and fifteen). Got a recon alternator and had that fitted. When the mechanic fitted the new alternator, he said that an adjuster bolt was missing when he removed the old one. He was able to fit the recon alternator but suggested i need to get this bolt. Other than that, everything seemed ok.

A few days later i have driven the car today and had the wipers on, radio and the aircon on. Eventually the systems started failing, particularly when switching the aircon on/off. I got the car home and into the garage. Tried to start it again and it wouldn't.

So i guess its one of the following:
1. The missing bolt is somehow making the alternator fail (connections sliiping?).
2. The recon alternator has failed.
3. The battery is faulty? Its a relatively new one but seems a little small (its called Power Bull?)

Sorry for the lengthy post, but i do tend to ramble....

[anonymous-user]

Could something be draining the battery, such as an aftermarket stereo or alarm system? My Eunos has a non-standard battery, and even when left for a couple of months always has enough charge to start it.

[iantek]

Thats a good point. It has an aftermarket stereo which i can only describe as crap and has been fitted badly with big gaps either side of it. I intend to replace it becasue it looks rubbish and rattles when on the move. It has an aftermarket immobiliser and a glass rear screen with a heated window. Now i can't find the switch to operate the heated rear screen but i'm sure its not switched on because its steamed up today on my way home.

[MX-5 Lazza]

If the battery is draining while you're driving it then it's unlikely to be a power-drain. It's more likely to be failing to charge.
If an adjuster bolt is missing it could be that the alternator is moving and allowing the belt to slip.
Also make sure the battery & engine earth-straps and earthing points are in good condition.

And that alternator - are you sure it's for an MX5?

[iantek]

Thanks for the reply MX5 Lazza. The alternator i got was from AutolinkMX5 and was listed as the correct one on the net. I have the old one sat in the kitchen now and it looked identical to the recon one. I think the belt must be slipping or something similar. When i rang the garage to talk it over it was one of the first things he said.

Cheers!