HELP! Focus running out of electricity

[carmadgaz]

Hi

Was driving along last night and the lights dimmed, speedo died and the car cut out. Checked the battery (had a multimetre in the boot) and it was showing 9v. Left the car for a few hours and when I returned the car started but the Engine Management light stayed on (and the battery showed 12v).

Drove the car most of the way back home then it cut out again, left it on the side of the road overnight. Again this morning the car started and drove fine, got it home, it ran until I put a load on the system (radio, lights and heater) then it petered out until it died again. It also did this when I swapped for another battery.

Any ideas on what to do, I've got the batteries on charge but I'm not sure the alternator is charging.

Car is a 2002 1.6 Zetec.

[The Highway Man]

For the battery to discharge the way you're describing it, it certainly sounds like a faulty alternator to me.

[carmadgaz]

The Highway Man said:

For the battery to discharge the way you're describing it, it certainly sounds like a faulty alternator to me.

Would appear that way, brand new battery and it's only showing 11.9V across the battery under load

[The Highway Man]

This appears cheap enough to replace.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_tr...

[carmadgaz]

You are a star, I've added it to my list, will speak to my mechanic in the morning and see when he can fit it in, hopefully I have enough funds to order it before payday!

[neiljohnson]

Certainly sounds like alternator try Euro car parts trouble with ebay ones is the quality is not always great & if you go somewhere like Euros or a local factor you will get a good warranty.

Also its worth checking the conections on the alternator Focus suffer from them getting dirty or loose so could just be that.

Also check the exciter wire has not broken (the small wire on the alternator) they have a habit of breaking @ 6 inches from the alternator itself.

Hth Neil

[carmadgaz]

neiljohnson said:

Certainly sounds like alternator try Euro car parts trouble with ebay ones is the quality is not always great & if you go somewhere like Euros or a local factor you will get a good warranty.

Also its worth checking the conections on the alternator Focus suffer from them getting dirty or loose so could just be that.

Also check the exciter wire has not broken (the small wire on the alternator) they have a habit of breaking @ 6 inches from the alternator itself.

Hth Neil

I shall take a look at these points when I get home tomorrow night . My local motor factor has a choice of 3 alternators (depending on the ampage) and the cheapest is only £30 less than an E-bay seconds one.