miles.gray Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 Hi, I have a 2014 Supersport R 2.0 duratec.Starts fine, battery seems to hold charge fine, start it up at home, tester across the batter terminals and rev it, volts go up to 13.5V (ish). Drive it down the road then the charge light flickers then come on constantly. I've checked various connections and all seem tight. Any clues? There's no squealing, so presume the belt is turning the alternator. Any help greatfuly received. Many thanks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 17, 2016 Member Share Posted September 17, 2016 Charging voltage looks good. Does the lamp behave sensibly when you first turn on the ignition and then start? Inspect the belt for damage and wear. Check the belt tension: how far can you press it with one finger in the middle of the longest run? (Other methods are available.) Did you find the wire that goes to the lamp at the alternator end and check the connection: wiggle, disconnect, clean and reconnect.After those compare the battery voltage and the lamp as you bring the engine speed up to what you get on the road... what's the voltage when the lamp comes on inappropriately?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles.gray Posted September 17, 2016 Author Share Posted September 17, 2016 Many thanks Jonathan, Lamp goes out as soon as it starts. Stays out when sat on the drive, comes on when driving. Belt seems OK. If the alternator is on the way out, would that explain the symptoms? About to go back out, jack it up again and seem if I can get that connector of and give it a clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 17, 2016 Member Share Posted September 17, 2016 Could be an internal fault on the alternator... but I don't like jumping to *conclusions.Jonathan* Only other vehicles. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles.gray Posted September 17, 2016 Author Share Posted September 17, 2016 update... cleaned the connector plug thingamybob on the back of the alternator. With the engine running, a few revs gives 14.3V across the battery and this continues even when the light is on. Wiggling some leads under the dash seems to get the light on and off, so presume that it's a wiring fault under the dash? It's sunny and want to take it out so going to risk it I think.... life's too short. Must remember to get some breakdown cover! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 17, 2016 Member Share Posted September 17, 2016 With the engine running, a few revs gives 14.3V across the battery and this continues even when the light is on. Wiggling some leads under the dash seems to get the light on and off, so presume that it's a wiring fault under the dash?Not sure yet.Do you understand how the circuit works... it's a bit weird. I'd now replicate it with a temporary lead from that terminal on the alternator to the voltmeter (and the existing lead disconnected). That will distinguish between something wrong with the lamp circuit and something wrong with what the alternator is showing at that terminal.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles.gray Posted September 17, 2016 Author Share Posted September 17, 2016 really appreciate your help. Have a photo of the culprit. If I squeeze it or wiggle it the light will go out and certain it's causing it. It's a little connector, in the photo, my finger is on the very end of it. Just wondering if it just needs nipping up?/sites/default/files/images/users/40423/DSC_0159.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 17, 2016 Member Share Posted September 17, 2016 If I squeeze it or wiggle it the light will go out and certain it's causing it.Are you doing that with the ignition on and the engine not running?I can understand how an inappropriate open circuit would do that... but not how it would cause your initial fault of the light coming *ON.Can you read the wire colours to that connector?Jonathan*Any experts lurking... could that be caused by leaking to an unusual path on the side of what is usually the battery feed to the lamp when that fails open? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles.gray Posted September 17, 2016 Author Share Posted September 17, 2016 Ignition on, engine not started = light on. Wiggling / sqeezing doesn't put it out.Engine running = intermittent light but a gentle squeeze puts it out.The wires look to all be green and white. I'm thinking the connector should crimp them all together but doesn't, hence thinking it needs nipping up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 17, 2016 Member Share Posted September 17, 2016 Yes, I'd open it up, have a good look and get it tight. If they're all the same and all connected to each other that shouldn't cause any problems.I'm just checking if Caterham use Green/White for ordinary ignition switched feeds.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles.gray Posted September 17, 2016 Author Share Posted September 17, 2016 just been for a reasonable drive ( 30-40 miles ) and no issues other than the light coming on now and again. But as I said, if I reach down and squeeze thatr little connector, it goes out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 18, 2016 Member Share Posted September 18, 2016 Looks as if Caterham use Green/White for the standard purpose: indicator switch to RH indicators. Do you have a matching thing but with Green/ Red?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 I experienced exactly the same symptoms (R400D) during a run down to the local L7C meet yesterday evening. The ignition warning light was flickering feebly on and off all the time. It may have been doing this for some time, of course, but this was my first trip in the dark for many months.Investigated today to discover the problem was caused by dirty contacts in the alternator plug. The alt was charging perfectly ok.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 21, 2016 Member Share Posted September 21, 2016 The ignition warning light was flickering feebly on and off all the time.Investigated today to discover the problem was caused by dirty contacts in the alternator plug. Makes sense. All dirty/poor or just the connection to the lamp? Did it have a rubber cover?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 All dirty/poor or just the connection to the lamp?The plug has two connectors, and both were pretty mucky. I imagine one lead is the energizing wire and the other the ignition warning light wire.Did it have a rubber cover?No, no cover at all. You can just about see the plug here.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 21, 2016 Member Share Posted September 21, 2016 ThanksJonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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