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[Bigron]

First the starter motor (my thanks to Essex Big Al for his invaluable help there ) and now the alternator - left me stranded in wildest Bedfordshire last Saturday when the battery emptied itself!
Why didn't the "no-charge" light come on to warn me? 
Anyway, it seems that I have no output from the alternator and I'm hoping that an OOFer might have a suitable one for sale, please?

Ron.

[Andy H]

Alternator and starter motor share a cable to the battery. Have you checked that the alternator is still connected to the battery lead at the starter motor?

Re - 'no charge' warning (or lack of) : either the alternator is working but not connected to the battery (see above) or the regulator has died totally and so cannot drive the warning light.

[powerslinky]

Alternator and starter motor share a cable to the battery. Have you checked that the alternator is still connected to the battery lead at the starter motor?

Re - 'no charge' warning (or lack of) : either the alternator is working but not connected to the battery (see above) or the regulator has died totally and so cannot drive the warning light.

Only 2 leads disconnected at the starter motor when I  changed it . 1 large & 1 small  ( 13mm & 10mm nuts) both of these are refitted.

[Bigron]

Al, you are completely blameless in this; the connection that Andy H was referring to is nearer to the battery, along from the starter motor, and it was a good thought on his part - I will check as soon as I am able, assuming this fat bloke can feel around under the car and reach the connecton!

Ron.

[Bigron]

This fat bloke didn't have to crawl underneath - top access was just about do-able, despite fat arms.
Ugh, ALL connections secure and tight, so it looks like I need an alternator (at pensioner's rates?) and a man that can!

Ron.

[biggriffin]

Check large fuses on top battery.

[terry paget]

I have suffered alternator failure on Omegas without the warning light coming on. On mine the alternator output was reduced but not zero, but could not meet the electrical demands of this modern car. On test, across battery voltage with engine running was 13.2, but with all lights, heated rear screen, etc. on, voltage fell to 11.5. Not like in the olden days with dynamos and cut outs, then the no charging light would come on. It also glimmered at idle, just to let you know it was working.

[Bigron]

Would you believe that this very morning the warning light DID come on! It definitely had not done so in the past.
I emailed the vendor of my battery asking for a replacement because it had gone low capacity and they said I must get checks carried out at, say, Kwik-Fit and get a print-out.
They confirmed that the battery is indeed unserviceable and also that the alternator is giving zero output.
All credit to Kwik-Fit, so often criticised on here: they made the checks inmmediately and provided the necessary print-out courteously and without cost.

"Troubles come not in single spies, but whole battalions........"

Ron.

[Andy H]

Alternator and starter motor share a cable to the battery. Have you checked that the alternator is still connected to the battery lead at the starter motor?

Re - 'no charge' warning (or lack of) : either the alternator is working but not connected to the battery (see above) or the regulator has died totally and so cannot drive the warning light.

Only 2 leads disconnected at the starter motor when I  changed it . 1 large & 1 small  ( 13mm & 10mm nuts) both of these are refitted.

Sorry - was trying NOT to make it read as though I was questioning anyone’s workmanship.

I don't know what caused the starter motor to go up in smoke or if there was any collateral damage so felt it was a question worth raising.

[powerslinky]

Alternator and starter motor share a cable to the battery. Have you checked that the alternator is still connected to the battery lead at the starter motor?

Re - 'no charge' warning (or lack of) : either the alternator is working but not connected to the battery (see above) or the regulator has died totally and so cannot drive the warning light.

Only 2 leads disconnected at the starter motor when I  changed it . 1 large & 1 small  ( 13mm & 10mm nuts) both of these are refitted.

Sorry - was trying NOT to make it read as though I was questioning anyone’s workmanship.

I don't know what caused the starter motor to go up in smoke or if there was any collateral damage so felt it was a question worth raising.

Electrics is not my strong point by any means  . . but I'm thinking that maybe the starter burned out because of the  low voltage . . . that could have been going on for some time    just a thought  . . . is that a possibility ?

[Bigron]

I appreciate your trying to be helpful, Al, but that is about as likely as my winning the "Body Beautiful" Contest!
However, even if it were true, it wouldn't have changed my present situation ( I was going to type "current situation", until I realised what a dreadful pun that would have been) and therefore still up the creek without a paddle!

Ron