- multimeter (in the voltmeter mode with a measurement limit of 1520 V);
- technical stethoscope.
- assistant.
Check sequence
1. We prepare the car for repair work.
2. We warm up the engine on the car to operating temperature (not less than 80°С).
3. We turn on all powerful consumers of electricity on the car (heated rear window, electric heater fan, high beam headlights, heated seats).
Note. Further verification of the generator should be carried out with an assistant.
4. Pressing the pedal «gas» and controlling the operation of the engine using a tachometer, we keep the engine crankshaft speed within 3000-3500 rpm.
5. We measure the voltage at the battery terminals with a voltmeter. With a working generator, the voltmeter should show a voltage of at least 13 V.
Note. If the voltage is less than 13 V, the alternator belt may be loose, a malfunction in the alternator circuit, the alternator voltage regulator is faulty, the brushes in the alternator are oiled or worn out, and other malfunctions in the alternator itself.
6. We turn off all consumers of electricity, while the voltmeter should show a voltage not higher than 14.7 V.
Note. If the voltage is greater than 14.7 V, the voltage regulator is most likely defective.
7. With a stethoscope, we evaluate the condition of the generator bearings by noise. A loud hum indicates wear on one or both bearings (most often the front bearing of the generator fails).
Generator Wiring Diagram: 1 - battery; 2 - generator; 3 - mounting block; 4 - ignition switch; 5 - generator malfunction warning lamp in the instrument panel
Generator details: 1 - protective cover of the rectifier unit; 2 - screws for fastening the voltage regulator; 4 - rectifier block; 5 - capacitor; 6 - back cover; 7 - stator with windings; 8 - rotor; 9 - front cover; 10 - remote bushing; 11 - pulley; 12 - washer; 13 - spring washer; 14 - pulley fastening nut; 15 - front bearing; 16 - rear bearing; 17 - coupling bolts of covers; 18 - bolts (with insulating gaskets) fastening of the block of rectifiers and conclusions of windings of the stator; 19 - bolt (without insulating pad) fastening of the block of rectifiers; 20 - capacitor mounting screw; 21 - fastening elements of the contact bolt; 22 - remote bushing; 23 - insulating sleeve; 24 - pin bolt