New alternator failure
This 2008 Citroën C3 was the owner’s first car after passing her driving test. It was a perfect size and she was soon confident driving around in it. While on her way to work one day, the car started to splutter and the engine cut out. Attempting to start the vehicle, she discovered the battery was flat. The local breakdown service diagnosed a failed alternator and towed her to a local garage, where the battery was charged and the alternator replaced. All was OK for a couple of days, then she broke down again a stone’s throw from our workshop.
We checked the charge rate and confirmed that the battery was not charging. Contacting the previous garage, they gave us the details of the alternator supplier, whom we then contacted. They would happily replace the faulty alternator if needed.
Before jumping in and fitting another new alternator, we decided to carry out a few checks. A voltmeter connected directly to the alternator terminal showed that the battery voltage was not reaching the alternator. A quick trace through the loom revealed the problem: the alternator lead is connected to the starter lead before it reaches the battery – at some point, this had been moved and although the starter lead was making good contact, the alternator lead was not. A quick adjustment had the alternator charging again.