the_big_1

iTrader: (1)

It has to be done on Amps and any is ok but neg is the safe way. I welded my watch to my wrist learning the hard way!

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

*** that...neg it is lol

ill test it on monday and let you know the reading..

are you local by the way? or were you just in the area today

the_big_1

iTrader: (1)

I am from Oldham originally but live in Nuneaton. My lad lives in Oldham so up there once a month lol. Yeah neg is the way to go, have the scars to prove it lol. If more people would like a step by step guid to finding start problems, let me know!

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

cheers pal

The Rig

iTrader: (13)

i had a weird situation,car driven everyday,battery 2.5 yrs old.
started fine in the morning,drove it,stopped,back to car few hrs later,drove it, stopped,got out,armed alarm then 2 minutes later alarm triggered and wouldnt go off,by the time i de-activated alarm with the battery still connected (i know disconnecting the earth lead would of done the same but as soon as its connected again,alarm triggers) battery was dead,totally.

charged it and been fine ever since ??????

have 6 mths left of battery warranty,wonder how i could "kill" the battery to get a nice new one under warranty ha ha ha

anyhoo,back on topic,hope you get it sorted

the_big_1

iTrader: (1)

lol its easy to kill a battery, messy though lol

The Rig

iTrader: (13)

ha ha yeah,but i need to do it so i can take a carcass back and they test it and go oh yeah,its fecked,have a nice new one under warranty :-)

the_big_1

iTrader: (1)

Easiest way, when your takeing it back, if not sealed for life, use something to get the acid out of one cell only and put in water. Don't charge it or anything

scoobyboy

how many wires do you have in the plug on the alt, if you have 2 then it's a normal alt if you have 3 then you have an alt thats controlled by the ecu and will only charge if the ecu thinks it needs to and will vary the amount it charges depending on what charging strategy it uses.
some model years didn't have a very good strategy and it resulted in a lot of batteries going flat hence subaru have redesigned it for the new legacy onwards which is a lot better

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

where is the alternator located on a bugeye impreza, is it to the right of the air con unit?

the_big_1

iTrader: (1)

I have never seen an alty controlled by an ECU before, be a first for me but I do know that the hawkeye isnt, is a standard alternator like all the others I have seen.

scoobyboy

it depends on what year it was made some sti's are ecu controlled some aren't and the strategy it uses but if there is 3 wires in the plug it's controlled by the ecu.

the new legacy uses an ammeter and a temp sensor and the battery voltage the ecu sees to work out at what rate to charge and for how long.

somewhere i've got the sheet from a training day at i.m where it lists what cars have what alt and what strategy it uses i'll see if i can dig it out

it's right above the crank pulley

the_big_1

iTrader: (1)

If you can, send it me, would love to read it. Always love learning more things!

cheers!

scoobyboy

will do, it's more of a chart but you can see all the my's and what alt they have and what strategy they use for charging. not a lot to read but it's good info

the_big_1

iTrader: (1)

yeah deffo send. I looked at all the circuit diagrams what I have and none of them are ECU controlled etc so will check models etc, see if there is other circuit diagrams I havent got etc.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

You tell him to use an ammeter, and then describe the usage of a voltmeter?

Anyone who doesn't know how to use an ammeter ought not to be doing so.
IMHO

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

well ive bought a digital multimeter so im gonna check everything tomorrow