Ah, ok - combination mis-reading on a tiny iPhone screen and sense of humour having gone to sleep too early lol
What GVK said. Wire in an ammeter, external, lock the car with all windows shut. Have a cup of tea, check you still have the draw you thought you had.... Been there also, Audi A2 ! Jon
Draw is solved now (dodgy wiring by a previous owner) but seem to have knackered the exciter circuit in the process of testing the alternator.
Tested the alternator voltage after a quick blast down the road today, getting 14ish volts. So whatever is going on with the exciter circuit doesn't seem to be stopping the charging. I'd still like to fix it though, does anyone know if the exciter diodes are part of the replaceable voltage regulator pack or are they internal to the alternator somewhere?
the alternator will trigger when its revved, but for 100% perfect workign alternator you need that there blue wire circuit working. try earthign the blue wire ring terminal on the alternator itself, if light still comes on its alternator. if not the blue wire is snapped somewhere in the alternator loom
Yes, the light comes on when the blue wire is earth, so it's the alternator. Is it repairable do you know? Part of the regulator perhaps? Or is it just toasted and I need a new alternator?
I think you may have damaged the field diodes which part of the diode pack in the alternator. They're only rated at a couple of amps unlike the main diodes. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/william.whittaker1/alt2.htm I'm not sure the regulator will be able to function properly with AC coming through the field coil. Reading this probably not advisable to run it like that, but it does show a possible repair. http://www.coolcatcorp.com/faqs/Lucasalternators4.html
if it was me i would go mk3 alternator setup, its same for 8v and 16v except forthe crank pulley is 16v specific. depends what comes up foirst i guess, abf crank pulley or mk2 16v alternator!
I was looking to do this as part of my 9A conversion, but I also have A/C so I guess that's really going to confuse things?
with mk3 setup only thing you need to convert to a/c is the a/c waterpump v-belt pulley, plus the compressor itself. however yours is aftermarket kit isnt it? if so you might find it wont bolt to mk3 setup and the pipes might not be the same as a mk3 compressor...
Yes, mine's aftermarket A/C. I'll leave that as part of the 9A conversion then as I can try assembling it all off the car first. I'll just look for a KR alternator for now I think.
