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[gbh]

Alternator swapped over off my other car and it was a lot easier with practice and the good news is the battery light has gone off so just need to give it a run now to test and I'll have another go with my volt meter.Now I need to replace the one i've used now which of course is a Bosch but I've seen a possible replacement but it's a Lucas.It mentioned on the box suitable for Omega up to 99 being LRB255 model and is either new/old stock or reconditioned but seller doesn't know which.THOUGHTS??

[dave the builder]

you can buy a diode repair kit quite cheap apparently ,
might be worth looking into 

[Doctor Gollum]

I would start by replacing your volt meter...

[cam.in.head]

dont drive too far ( if not at all) until youve had the voltmeter on it .chances are its ok now and was the regulator on the old unit but you need to check.
last time we had a car with a faulty regulator it blew nearly all its bulbs and damaged the radio and that was a non complicated 70's basic car.

[dave the builder]

I would start by replacing testing your volt meter...

set it to DC , NOT AC for a guess 

[cam.in.head]

I would start by replacing your volt meter...

 yes . or at least try it now and see what it reads.
everyone should have a basic multimeter in their kit. theyre not expensive and worth their weight in gold

[gbh]

Believe it or not I was an electrician and I thought my Fluke 11 meter was ok but it certainly doesn't like car batteries or maybe it needs calibrating because the volts were too high which I'm sure wasn't right or a new meter of course.Any thoughts on the Lucas alternator? and I'll check Mark's guide I think I saw somewhere on regulator

[dave the builder]

Believe it or not I was an electrician and I thought my Fluke 11 meter was ok but it certainly doesn't like car batteries or maybe it needs calibrating because the volts were too high which I'm sure wasn't right or a new meter of course.Any thoughts on the Lucas alternator? and I'll check Mark's guide I think I saw somewhere on regulator

was the Fluke set to DC volts 
tried testing on a known voltage ,like a torch battery or PP9 from a smoke alarm  ?

[cam.in.head]

highly unlikely the fluke meter was faulty.? ?. what does it read now.

[Doctor Gollum]

highly unlikely the fluke meter was faulty.? ?. what does it read now.

Replies #3 and 10 would suggest different. 

[cam.in.head]

i agree they were strange readings but he needs to try them now or also with another meter to be sure . otherwise car cannot be used .or i wouldnt anyway.

[Doctor Gollum]

They were consistent on two cars, which suggests a meter issue before the cars, although the new alternator has clearly fixed something

[cam.in.head]

to be honest lets hope it is a faulty meter because those readings if correct wont have done a lot of good to either car !
wel soon see .

[gbh]

Well I'll be ------ I've been driving around not too far without problem and the battery light came on again with a flicker at first.I'll get under and double check the connections first as hopefully that's it.How annoying!!!!!

[johnnydog]

When my alternator packed up on my 3.2 a good number of years ago, it began with a quick flicker - you see it out of the corner of your eye and you think 'Did I see something flicker on the dash?' It then happened again a few miles later, before coming on constantly a few more miles further on, at which point I realised my long trip home was going to be on the back of a recovery truck.
Definitely your alternator. I've had three fail over the years with similar symptoms.