- A) Check that the wire clamps are securely fastened to the battery terminals.
- b) Check Battery Status (see paragraph 3). If the battery is defective, replace it.
- V) Check the generator wires and their connections.
- G) Check the condition and tension of the alternator drive belt.
- d) Check that the alternator mounting bolts are securely tightened.
- e) With the engine running, listen to the alternator for any unusual sounds.
- and) Check the MAIN fuse (100 A) and fuse ENG INJ (30 A) in the fuse box in the engine compartment.
- h) See if the discharge light on the dashboard is on when the ignition is turned on (engine not running). If the light is off, disconnect the 2-pin connector on the back of the generator and disconnect the ground wire from terminal L. The discharge light should be on (pic. 11.1). If the light is off, check the METER fuse (15 A). If the fuse is blown, replace it. If the fuse is good, check the warning light.
2. With the ignition on and the engine not running, turn off all consumers and check the voltage at the generator terminals:
- A) There should be battery voltage between pins 9 and S.
- b) There should be a voltage of about 1 V at the L pin.
3. Start the engine and let it idle. Again check the voltage at the generator terminals:
- A) There should be a voltage of 14.1-74.7S between pins 3 and S.
- b) There should be a voltage of 13.2-13.8 V at pin L
4. Observe the change in voltage as the load on the on-board network increases. Turn on the high beam headlights, the A/C fan at high speed, the windshield wipers, and the audio system. When each next consumer is turned on, the voltage at pin B should drop, and then return to its original position again. If the charging system is OK, the voltage should not drop below 13.5 V. If the voltage drops below 13.0 V, then there is a malfunction in the charging system.
5. With the engine running at idle, check the battery charge voltage. It should not be lower than 13 V.
Note. Some low-power generators can reduce voltage when the speed drops below 13 V, however, if the charging system is working, then the voltage should return to its previous level.
6. Turn off the electrical load, run the engine up to 1600 rpm and observe the charging voltage. It should increase, but not higher than 15 V.
Note. The voltage should be slightly higher when the temperature is low, but it should decrease as the engine warms up.
7. If the charging voltage does not change with the change in speed and when connecting and disconnecting the load, then the voltage regulator is faulty. If the charging voltage is significantly lower than specified, then the alternator is faulty. In this case, replace the alternator together with the voltage regulator.