charging fault

[Robert12]

Hi just got in c5 2.2 estate and its come up on the dash saying charging fault and the pointer for the battery dropped to 0 . does this meen the alternator is nackerd ?

[Peter.N.]

Connect a voltmeter across the battery, it should read about 14.4 volts with the engine running, much lower than this alternator probably u/s.

Peter

[Robert12]

Thanks for the reply peter just put meter on it and its showing 12volts with engine running so looks like I will have to get a new alternator

[myglaren]

May just be a kippered diode in the rectifier, cheaper than a new alternator.

[Robert12]

Hi fitted new alternator and its still the same is there any fuses for the alternator?

[myglaren]

Looking more like poor connections to the battery or earth.
Have the battery leads and terminals been checked for tightness and cracks?

[Lighty]

Biggest issue on a C5 is oil leaking from the pump above, straight into the alternator. New clip on the pipe cures the leak before you destroy a new alternator

[Robert12]

Theres no oil leeking from the pump above it seems ok

[addo]

First thing I tell people to check is the battery itself. Usually this is older than they remember!

After a full day's charging the battery should be load tested by an automotive electrician, for actual CCA. A shorted cell can cause exactly the situation described.

[Robert12]

The battery seems ok with a load test ITs not dropping off

[Robert12]

The new alternator was faulty got it exchanged for another ,and all is ok