Garage Support

Post a Response

Ford Focus 1.6 16v 2001 - Alternator smart charge fault #

Posted by Terry Wood on October 14, 2011, 9:09 pm

Year of Manufacture *: 2001
( Optional ) Engine Code or CC: 1.6 16v ZETEC

I have the above vehicle at the moment with a charging fault with intermittent battery warning light on

Something that is apparent is most the time when there is a load on the alternator e.g. light on the lights can be seen to flicker
Battery voltage can be seen fluctuating from 13.5v to 15v very quickly not like the usual smart charge control
Below is a waveform showing
Ch1 Blue pin 1 smart charge Multiplug Alternator Feedback
Ch2 Red pin 2 smart charge Multiplug Alternator Load Request from PCM
Ch3 Green Battery voltage also same as pin 3 smart charge Multiplug
Ch4 Yellow Current output alternator

Have checked continuity pin 1 and 2 to pcm ok

Battery is a Silver cadmium type and test ok at 420 cca

No DTC'S Stored in ECM

If you disconnect the smart charge multi plug voltage and charge returns to normal, Voltage and Current output of a conventional Alternator

Not having a good waveform to compare I am not sure of direction to go next

Pico waveform can be downloaded below
http://www.londonautolocks.co.uk/ukautotalk/20111014-0004.psdata

Thanks in advance for any help or direction

Terry Wood

Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)

Posted by Mark Mcgrath <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT2806' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 14, 2011, 10:22 pm, in reply to "Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)"
Mark McGrath

pin 1 should be constant square wave which yours isnt
we had one on a KA which was intermittent square wave and not very clean pattern on pin 1 which was faulty alternator which also threw a fault code up
replacement alternator from pages was crap pattern
genuine ford one sorted it

Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)

Posted by Jon Morgan <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=ukat3190' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 14, 2011, 11:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)"

I had an old Focus (03) with flickering lights last week.
disconnected the multiplug on the alternator & one pin was green in the female end - may be worth a closer look?

Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)

Posted by Kevin Apps <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT2589' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 15, 2011, 8:28 am, in reply to "Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)"
Kevin Apps

Terry

"Have checked continuity pin 1 and 2 to pcm ok"
Did you load test the wires as well.

Kev.

Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)

Posted by Terry Wood <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT2771' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 15, 2011, 10:26 am, in reply to "Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)"
Terry Wood

Thanks for all the replies

Mark does the pulse width signal of (pin 1 alternator load) not change with load?

Jon the the 3 pin multi plug and pins are in good condition

Kevin good tip, load test was an over sight on my behalf but unfortunately load testing Is also good

Thanks for all your help

Terry Wood

Terry@ydhost.co.uk

Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)

Posted by Mark Mcgrath <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT2806' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 15, 2011, 11:48 am, in reply to "Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)"
Mark McGrath

pin 1 constant square wave HTH

Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)

Posted by Terry Wood <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT2771' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 15, 2011, 2:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)"

Was feeling OK about ordering a new alternator today
until i had 2 other good focus's to compare
an 2004 1.6 and a 2000 1.4
both had a higher control voltage from PCM on pin 2

Below scope image of the faulty vehicle

Below the 2 other good focus's that had a scope image similar to this example

Now even more confused

Terry Wood

Terry@ydhost.co.uk

Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)

Posted by Tony Sefton <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT5581' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 15, 2011, 11:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)"
Tony Sefton

Terry. Being totally Flipping useless with scopes, I wouldn't think twice about ordering and fitting a new alternator, We have fitted and sold dozens ( might even be hundreds ) of these Smart charge alternators and have never yet seen one that a new Alternator hasn't cured apart from the obvious broken B+ sensing wire and the odd one that someone has opened the pins up in the plug by sticking a test light or probe into.

If the Customer is a Tight so and so, Explain that you need a known good Alternator, Before you waste Lots of hours testing ecu's and wiring etc.

H.T.H. Tony.

Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)

Posted by Keith Simpson <iframe src='https://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/info/user=UKAT1240' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 16, 2011, 1:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Ford Focus Smart Charge Fault (waveform)"

I think Tony's right. For what it's worth these traces are on Pico Website.

We have done lots of these and 90% of the time it's an alternator fault and the other 10% wiring. We don't fit anything else than a genuine alternator.

Keith

« Back to index

[ Garage Support ]