Hi all been having some problems with the car recently and cant seem to figure it out

The volt meter in the car is up and down all the time and the car keeps trying to cut out, so i changed the battery and it still doing it Now im thinking it may be the alternator, so the question is whats the best way to check if its ok ??


Cheers
Deano

Get one of then volt meter things, but on your battery when car is running, should show about 14v

have you got a volt meter? if not would suggest taking it to a garage to get it checked.

if ya have got a volt meter- set it 15v. put probes across terminals on battery take a reading ( 10v+ is good)

now start engine and do tha same thing. (12 - 13v)

now ya want some one to rev the engine to around 2500-3000rpm. take a reading. (should read 14v+)

all readings shoulb be steady

someone will be along to correct me about the actual voltages it should read (i'm no mechanic!) but as a guide the voltage should read higher with the engine at idle and even higher when revved. this is a very simple indicator to weather the alternator is charging correctly.

ps. it is also possible for the alternator to over charge a battery!

hope this helps.

Cheers chaps ive tried this and everything seemed fine thats why i cant understand whats wrong with it . I put the new battery on last night and it was still playing up, when the car finally started it kept trying to cut out, swithched the lights on and it did thats why im thinking that the alternator might be on its last legs

Sounds like the cars ****ed, tell you what, i'll take the whole thing off you for a tenner?

Sond fair?

Stav

Sounds fair to me

doesnt sound like an alternator prob to me either now- soz chap i dunno

Gord has a T-Shirt that explains this very problem I believe.

Check you throttle body, maybe the rev is not sitting right and keeps dropping which makes the car cut out! its probably to do with the throttle tho!

Nice one fella, i'll send the RAC to pick it up tomorrow lol

I think you may be right, i had a good look around when i got home and noticed that the metal coil round the throttle keeps adjusting itself. Then when the car cut out there was a buzzing/whistling noise coming from that area. Going to get my mate to have a look at it and see what he thinks.

Oh well time time to take the black one out of hibernation untill te other ones sorted.

the buzzing is perfectly normal - its the servo motor

Cheers Rob thats another thing to rule out