C2 1.1 Charging Circuit Issues

[r3load]

Hello,

 

I'm looking at my friends C2 for him...

 

The battery wasn't holding charge so he replaced it but again the new one has not held charge.

 

I'm about to go and have a look once the battery has finished charging so I can check the voltage across the battery when idle, fast idle and fast idle with load - basic alternator testing.

I will also check it back to the alternator to prove that it isn't a fault in the circuit - but I think there might be!!!

 

While in the car earlier today I noticed that there are some leads loose under the steering wheel.

I'm not sure if this a break in the charging circuit or just spare leads for an optional accessory which wasn't fitted?

 

There are three connectors that I could see. I've uploaded pictures below (image 3 and 4 are of the same connector):

1) http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/9020/dsc00082cp9.jpg

2) http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2655/dsc00083av4.jpg

3) http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1709/dsc00085bs7.jpg

4) http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2181/dsc00086hz4.jpg

 

I could not see where these went to. Any ideas what they are or where they go to?

 

Cheers chaps,

 

Gary

[iannez]

the alternator will be the cause. get the car running and check voltage across battery terminals. should be around 14v.

[r3load]

Yes, I've said I'm going to test across the battery and will also test the output from the alternator.

 

If I find 14v on the output of the alternator this will mean a fault is in the charging circuit.

My question was; what are these plugs? And where/is there sockets to accept them? Are they a part of the charging circuit?

 

I hear on a C2 there is a warning light that will come up if the charging circuit has failed(?).

This means something must come through the firewall related to the charging circuit? But is this the whole charging circuit (to say, an ammeter? where the break could be?) or just an indication from the ECU or a fault relay?

 

Cheers,

 

Gary

[iannez]

with respect i think you need someone with a bit more experience than you to look at this. how can there be a fault with the charging circuit as you put it if you have 14v across the battery terminals. the battery puts out around 12.5v engine not running so if theres 14v at the battery with the engine running it is receiving a charge from the alternator and why on earth are you looking in the passenger compartment for a charging/battery fault before you have checked the output of the alternator. the spare plugs are there because citroen use the same harness for all there c3,s and these spare plugs will be for things like esp, cruise ctrl or radio ctrls that this model may not have. the battery is fed direct from the alternator through a heavy wire (for some strange reason this does not run around the whole car). if you look under the bonnet instead of in the passenger compartment you might have noticed. the only thing inside the car that can cause a flat battery is a discharge caused by a short and not a spare multi plug. just check the voltage across the battery with the car running and then go and order yourself a new alternator and if i were you i would pay someone with half an idea to fit it for you. :) :D :blink:

[r3load]

with respect i think you need someone with a bit more experience than you to look at this.

Very respectful

 

how can there be a fault with the charging circuit as you put it if you have 14v across the battery terminals. the battery puts out around 12.5v engine not running so if theres 14v at the battery with the engine running it is receiving a charge from the alternator

As I said; I've not checked it yet - the car is at my friend’s house and I didn't have enough charge on the battery to try anything. I'm trying to find out what these connectors are before I go back.

 

and why on earth are you looking in the passenger compartment for a charging/battery fault before you have checked the output of the alternator.

They are hanging down under the dash - I said I noticed them. You open the bonnet from inside the car.

 

the spare plugs are there because citroen use the same harness for all there c3,s and these spare plugs will be for things like esp, cruise ctrl or radio ctrls that this model may not have.

Finally. Thank you.

 

the battery is fed direct from the alternator through a heavy wire (for some strange reason this does not run around the whole car). if you look under the bonnet instead of in the passenger compartment you might have noticed.

My first post said "I'm about to go and have a look once the battery has finished charging". I wasn't going to go and check half at a time.

If an ammeter was fitted, these are generally inside the dash area; this is one example of why the charging circuit would run through the car (see my second post for this example)

 

the only thing inside the car that can cause a flat battery is a discharge caused by a short and not a spare multi plug.

Or... a break in the charging circuit like my example could cause a flat battery. If these plugs when into a related instrument this would be the case. This was my question.

 

just check the voltage across the battery with the car running and then go and order yourself a new alternator

Would you not also suggest checking across the terminals of the alternator? As I've said a few times "If I find 14v on the output of the alternator this will mean a fault is in the charging circuit."

 

and if i were you i would pay someone with half an idea to fit it for you. :) :D :blink:

And if I were you I'd try and get some basic reading lessons.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Gary

[smokescreen]

Just looking at this issue it seems that what iannez is saying is just meter across the battery when engine is running, 14V will prove that the alternator is working and charging the battery. If the battery is subsequently not holding its charge there must be something draining it - boot light staying on or something else?

 

Regards

 

Smokescreen

[iannez]

thanks smokescreen. thats exactley what i am trying to get across. 1 simple voltage test across the battery is all that is needed to find this fault.

r3load. if i were you i would come on this forum asking for advice with a bit better attitude in future.