help needed (car wont start)

[totalnova]

im having problems with my 1.4 sri it wont start. i was told the alternator was on its way out, now the car wont start as if the battery is dead. the starter moter turns over very slowly so thats not it. any help? any ideas?
thanks

[Aragorn]

if starter turns really slowly and then starts making horrible clicking sound then either the battery is dead or u have a faulty earth

try switching the headlights on then trying to start car

if lights dim right out then the batterys dead

if they stay bright the gearbox earth strap is dead (try connecting a jump lead from the battery negative to the block somewhere)

[totalnova]

just did a test and the alternater is over charging the battery and its burning out the distilled water in the battery so it needs replacing any1 no of a good place that sells cheap alternators?
thanks.

[Riggy]

when you say over charging

how much do you mean as a normal alternator will give more then 12 volts due to some circumstances where you have all electrical equipment on

eg lights , heaters , heated rear window , stereo this all puts a drain on the system so is compensated for

[Aragorn]

normal charging voltage is 13.8v, 13.6-14.2 is normal range and is perfectly ok

alternator will sometimes overcharge for a few seconds when its first started before the regulator settles (mine occassionaly goes right to the end of the digidash before coming back down a notch to the normal place)

generally with extra loading on the electrical system the voltage drops down and if it drops below 12v the battery wont be charging any more

[totalnova]

put it this way i have a sri and and a corsa 1.4 sport 16v the corsa voltage was 14.1 the sri voltage was 16.7 so a tad high
sorry if this is confusing for people

[Riggy]

lol yeah that is a tad high :o :lol:

[Aragorn]

just fire down to breakers and get another alternator

[totalnova]

how much should i be paying for one and are all 8v one the same ie 1.2 1.4 1.6?

[Aragorn]

?10 or 20 i'd imagine

find the rating of yours and get one thats the same or higher

theres an assortment of ratings from 45 to 70a

the higher the better

8v astras n shit will also fit

[alxlaw]

im havin the same problem with mine sounds like the same thing too, i thaut it was the starter motor? mines only a 1.0 tidler

[Riggy]

im havin the same problem with mine sounds like the same thing too, i thaut it was the starter motor? mines only a 1.0 tidler

if you need a new alternator give us a pm i have a few spare

[totalnova]

well got one today from a 1.4 corsa 8v from a srappie it cost me ?30 thou must be london prices everything down here costs more at scrappies oh well just need to get it on now thanks for all your help every one