Alternator problems

[220bhp]

I have a flat battery on and of for a few weeks. Which I put down to the cold weather finishing of the battery, so I fitted a new one.
Week later and same problem.
It was charging a little low on the gauge so I fitted
Another alternator which I thought was good but still not charging enough
I took the original alternator to be reconditioned , but they could not find anything wrong with it. So what could it be.
Car is due for an mot , but I can't drive it .
Any ideas would be appreciated.
The car is an s2 3b by the way.

[Rikki Kitto]

Sounds like you have a current drain going on somewhere can be hard to find good luck, start by checking all the earth points are good

[John.]

Earth points between battery and body, and between body and engine may be your reason for poor charging..............it will not however be the cause of an unauthorized drain.
Excessive drain would be (in my opinion) anything more than 0.02 amp, you'll need a multi-meter with a setting for amps and connect it in series with battery live or earth cable.......pull fuses until drain drops to a reasonable figure(0.02?)......and hopefully you'll identify the circuit that has the problem.

I think you need to establish if the charging system is ok.

[simons2]

Have you any codes ? As they could give you some direction

[DEREKCO]

Battery drain

Just for daftness try the tailgate light mine had the same fault found out it was an intermittent switch fault which left the tailgate light on ,took the bulb out no more flat battery ,just a thought

[220bhp]

I have taken the car to an auto electrics firm who checked the car out.
I had the battery on charge over night
On the way it started to charge at 14v .
They could not find anything wrong with the replacement I fitted to the car, and said
it is charging correctly, which is what the gauge now said.
However the car would not start they said it was the starter motor .
The car turned over real slow with the battery fully charged so I guess they are right.
I am now looking at replacing the starter.
Which is the best replacement , or due I have it reconditioned.
Any advise would be appreciated.

[piotr]

If it turns over lazy with fully charged battery,and your previous faults,it's still might be poor earth connection

[John.]

If it turns over lazy with fully charged battery,and your previous faults,it's still might be poor earth connection

Auto electric co. would have carried out volts drop test under load on supply and earth circuits......... you'd like to think!!

[steve briance]

Starter motor is very reliable - the only problem I have had in 15 years of motoring with n already old starter motor was the braided earth cable you can see coming out of the back of the motor housing. It was turning slowly for a few days then there was a puff of smoke when I started up outside my parents house (THankfully they noticed)... Pulled in for fuel on way home and it failed to restart. The smoke was the last bit of earth cable burning up. Repaired and that motor is still in service!