Charge light coming on

[Groovemaster]

I converted my Triumph Herald to alternator two years ago and it has run faultlessly up to now, the other day the charge light came on, I thought that it was the alternator, so I had it reconditioned. With the recond alternator the light is still staying on ( the car had a new battery three months ago ). Any ideas would be gratefully received. thanks

Bern

[katyratbag]

check the fan belt, if its loose it wont charge. are the conections tight on the battery ? regards

[klingon]

there are only 3 electrical connections going to the alternator (if it's a lucas unit)-one to the ignition switch,one to the battery , and one to the light on the dash-check out the wiring to the switch first as it is normally that -try "jiggling" the key with the engine running-old switches don't really like constant AC current and sometimes burn out the switch contacts inside.-Good Luck!

[Andyvon]

It may be a faulty replacement unit or parts Groovemaster.
The alternator failed on my Golf about four years ago and my local Stapletons fitted a reconditioned unit. That wasn't charging properly (the red light was flickering) so I took it back and they fitted a third unit which did work.
However, while I was waiting for that to be fitted, another customer came in with the same problem with his replacement alternator. The man serving told him they had had a bad batch of alternators and several customers had come back with replacements not working.

I would suggest you go back, tell them the reconditioned unit or parts aren't working properly, and insist they change it again. If that doesn't work, then maytbe get a refund and go somewhere else.

[twazerk]

When you replaced the dynamo with an alternator did you keep the regulator in place?
If you did it's VERY likely the reg is faulty.
If the reg is faulty I will try to dig out which wire you need to keep from the reg ( from memory it's the small one to the left if holding the reg with terminals towards you marked ind ) to the small terminal on the alt, the two large terminals can go straight to the pos side of the battery.
Or you can do away with the reg altogether by taking the two large terminals to batt pos, a wire from ignition live to one side of the charge light on the dash and the other side of charge light to alt small term on alt.