Also check that the drive belt is correctly tensioned with the tensioner. If a voltmeter and an ammeter are available, the following checks can be carried out:
- find the wires on the back of the generator. Red wire connected to terminal «B+» generator, thin blue wire - to the conclusion «D+». For the first check, connect a voltmeter between the output «D+» And «weight» (do not disconnect the wire, do not turn on the ignition). The device should show zero voltage;
- turn on the ignition and make sure that the voltage value is 1-3 V. If this is not the case, the voltage regulator or the generator winding may be malfunctioning;
- start the engine and set the speed to 2000 rpm. With the same connection of the device, the voltage value shown by it should be 13.7-14.5 V. If this is not the case, the voltage regulator is faulty or the generator brushes are worn out. At high voltages (up to 20 V) you can suspect the burnout of the diodes;
- connect an ammeter to the output «B+» And «mass». Start the engine and bring the speed up to 1200 min–1, turn on several power consumers. The ammeter should show at least 30 A. If this is not the case, the diodes may have failed. Further checks are carried out on the removed generator.
If the checks show that the generator is defective, the following can be done to avoid high costs:
- return the faulty generator to a service station specializing in the repair of electrical equipment for inspection and repair;
- if you have experience and the necessary skills, you can try to repair the generator yourself. Replacing the regulator and brushes is not a big deal. To disassemble the removed generator, unscrew the bolts from the housing. Diode boards, rotor or winding can be replaced individually. A detailed description of the work is given in subsection 13.3.4.