Hey all.
I had a car that wasn't charging. So I chucked another 2nd hand alternator in it. It still wasn't charging and I was a little surprised but then I remembered that the battery light on the dash never illuminates. So I replaced the globe. The light came on with the ignition ok but when I started the car, it was charging at 18v. I checked the globe and I had fitted a 12 volt 5 watt globe to what had originally been a 12 volt 3 watt globe.
Even after fitting the correct globe, the alternator still charged at 18v. There is no external regulator.
My question is, did I destroy the alternator by fitting the wrong globe or was there likely something already wrong with it?
Thanks for all replies.
I had a car that wasn't charging. So I chucked another 2nd hand alternator in it. It still wasn't charging and I was a little surprised but then I remembered that the battery light on the dash never illuminates. So I replaced the globe. The light came on with the ignition ok but when I started the car, it was charging at 18v. I checked the globe and I had fitted a 12 volt 5 watt globe to what had originally been a 12 volt 3 watt globe.
Even after fitting the correct globe, the alternator still charged at 18v. There is no external regulator.
My question is, did I destroy the alternator by fitting the wrong globe or was there likely something already wrong with it?
Thanks for all replies.