Technical Alternator only starts generating after revving

[koalar]

Are we sure there's even a problem

We need someone with the same same alternator and regulator to test theirs

According to the specs for the F00M144128 is got

Soft start 30%
Load response control

I wouldn't expect it to fire into life instantly

My 2010 panda does within 1/4 second of cranking

But a 9 year old Kia piccanto does not

Measured across the battery, there is a delay of around 5 seconds before it outputs any voltage

That a 100% working car that's never had a charging issue

 

[nigelvan]

Are we sure there's even a problem

We need someone with the same same alternator and regulator to test theirs

According to the specs for the F00M144128 is got

Soft start 30%
Load response control

I wouldn't expect it to fire into life instantly

My 2010 panda does within 1/4 second of cranking

But a 9 year old Kia piccanto does not

Measured across the battery, there is a delay of around 5 seconds before it outputs any voltage

That a 100% working car that's never had a charging issue

Well this will be easy to test: instead of waiting until the engine revs itself to about 1000rpm I can go right to revving it a bit myself and see if the alternator is indeed soft-starting or really needs those 1000 rpm.

 

[koalar]

Well this will be easy to test: instead of waiting until the engine revs itself to about 1000rpm I can go right to revving it a bit myself and see if the alternator is indeed soft-starting or really needs those 1000 rpm.

I thought of that

But then realised if the revs rise it's suppose to kick in if you raise the revs

So it's 50/50

If it doesn't kick we know it's supposed to be like that

But if it does kick in we are none the wiser

 

[vexorg]

Progress, 40 years ago alternators didn't charge at idle, lights would dim, they sort that so we have a healthy system, then we revert back to duff old alternators

 

[AnthonyH]

These soft start fuction alternators can't be saving much petrol per car, but over millions of cars it'll add up to less CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

 

[vexorg]

The emission due to alternators is negligible. After all teh cats and egr, andother junk, we are down to saving 1% of 1% of 1%, all a waste of time for a more complex car.

 

[g8rpi]

That's a slightly misleading statement. Catalytic converters EGR and DPF do not reduce CO2 emissions (they actually increase them due to weight etc) The reduce other emissions. Smart alternators do improve fuel consumption and thus CO2 imissions.

 

[jackwhoo]

And then manufacturers fit air conditioning to vehicles.....I wonder if the effect of having a.c. turned on is ever measured in regard to euro emission limits , or is there too much risk a.c. would push engine over limit? Or ....people wouldn't buy vehicle without a.c.?
Let alone the effect of a.c. gasses leaking into atmosphere over time /corroding components?

The above is not a dig at anyone on forum just an observation

 

[vexorg]

Smart alternators do improve fuel consumption and thus CO2 imissions.

if you say so, I doubt you'd see any real world difference

 

[koalar]

I thought soft start is to eliminate most of the drag from the alternator to make it easier to start, for vehicles with larger alternators

It then ramps it up slowly from 30% to reduce the snatch on the belt

And has little or nothing to do with emissions

Yes simple old cars were easier to understand and repair, but no they weren't better or more reliable in my opinion

 

[vexorg]

simple = better

 

[AnthonyH]

Yes simple old cars were easier to understand and repair, but no they weren't better or more reliable in my opinion

The petrol engine is going the same way as the steam engine.

If you've ever been to a tram museum or railway museum then you'd likely have seen people repairing and restoring the engines and carriages. In a hundred years the same will be true for petrol vehicles. Cars will be all electric.

Maybe someone will be repairing my old Grande Punto like its a precious diamond jewel lol.

 

[nigelvan]

So I can confirm it needs the revs and it's not time-based.
At least it's consistent now.

 

[koalar]

What was the result of the voltage drop test from the engine block to the battery while cranking

 

[nigelvan]

What was the result of the voltage drop test from the engine block to the battery while cranking

Sorry I haven't had time to test that yet. I'm hoping on some dry weather later this week.

 

[nigelvan]

@koalar Just did the test, voltage drop is max 0.5V while cranking, about 0.05V while idling. Seems quite normal to me

 

[koalar]

@koalar Just did the test, voltage drop is max 0.5V while cranking, about 0.05V while idling. Seems quite normal to me

Higher when compared to my panda, which is a small petrol engine, certainly will not cause any problems

 

[koalar]

What's the access to D004 connector like

One side

Pin 1 do you have brown and black
Pin 2 do you have yellow and red

The other

Pin 1 do you have brown and black
Pin 2 do you have brown and green


Pin 1 should be the thickest wire in there

 

[nigelvan]

@koalar yes that's correct.

 

[vexorg]

Just did the test, voltage drop is max 0.5V while cranking, about 0.05V while idling. Seems quite normal to me

0.5v while cranking?, most cars drop 3 or 4 volts while cranking.