Ever known a C5 alternator to suddenly stop charging?

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Jabo
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Ever known a C5 alternator to suddenly stop charging?

Post by Jabo »

I haven't experienced any charging problems with the motor in the year and a half of ownership.
I've been out doing lots of running around today with quite a few stop/starts. I came home and parked up for an hour, went back to start the car and the alternator wasn't charging. The battery meter just kept dropping.
Recharged the battery and had a check of the earths I could get to, and also a check of the engine bay fuses. Battery still discharged.

Battery's on charge now and I'll go back out in the morning to test the alternator with a multimeter.

It's just really weird...
2001 Citroen C5 SX 2.0 petrol - Misty Lilac

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Lighty
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Re: Ever known a C5 alternator to suddenly stop charging?

Post by Lighty »

They are good at leaking oil from the steering pump into the alternator
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Jabo
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Re: Ever known a C5 alternator to suddenly stop charging?

Post by Jabo »

Thanks for that, I'll need to have a check for obvious signs of leakage in the morning
Lighty wrote:They are good at leaking oil from the steering pump into the alternator
2001 Citroen C5 SX 2.0 petrol - Misty Lilac

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Re: Ever known a C5 alternator to suddenly stop charging?

Post by citronut »

if it is the alternator failed, it has probably been going home for a while but still just about keeping enough charge in the battery to start the car,
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Jabo
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Re: Ever known a C5 alternator to suddenly stop charging?

Post by Jabo »

Battery only reads 11v with the engine running. Time for a new alternator!
2001 Citroen C5 SX 2.0 petrol - Misty Lilac

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Post by addo »

Has it generated any "phantom faults" with the failing power supply? Just curious; building up my database.
Jabo
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Re: Ever known a C5 alternator to suddenly stop charging?

Post by Jabo »

You know, the misfire it's been experiencing for ages could be related. If you've seen my past posts you'll know I've had a misfire problem and been unable to get to the bottom of it (next step was going to be swapping lambda sensors)
Let's see if the new alternator does anything to the misfire issue.
2001 Citroen C5 SX 2.0 petrol - Misty Lilac

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Re: Ever known a C5 alternator to suddenly stop charging?

Post by Jabo »

Could be a placebo effect but after fitting my new alternator today the ride feels better, bumps aren't so harsh.
The old alternator would have the battery charging meter at a point just below half way. This one has it above halfway.
2001 Citroen C5 SX 2.0 petrol - Misty Lilac

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