Problem with new twin sockets

[MrMondeo]

Hi, first post on the forum, I hope someone can help me.

We bought a 2006 Mondeo last Thursday and yesterday a local mobile towbar fitter came around, fitting a new towbar with twin sockets.

We keep our caravan in a storage compound and haven't been able to connect up for checking yet (though we will soon) but a problem has already arisen. The 'battery not charging light' on the car dashboard is now on the entire time the car is running.

I assume this is neither normal nor acceptable? I just wanted someone to confirm this before I phone the fitter tomorrow in case he claims it is. If someone could also guess what likely error he has made that would be even better...

In hopeful anticipation, Adrian.

 

[RogerL]

It's certainly not normal or acceptable - it could be something simple like a loose battery terminal when the extra wiring was added or it could be more involved - just give your mobile man a call, explain the problem and get him back to fix it.

 

[dougie201]

Hi.
Your problem may have nothing to do with the towbar, your charging light will still go out even if you have a loose battery terminal. The red battery light on your dash indicates that your altinator is charging. You may simply have a loose drive belt! when was it last checked? I would make the usual checks before phoning the fitter.

Dougie....

 

[RogerL]

The red battery light on your dash indicates that your altinator is charging.

Surely it indicates it's NOT charging?

 

[xtrailman]

Sometimes fitters pick up from the alternator.
So i would have a look for a wire off the alternator.
Last time i had the charge light up, the diode pack was found faulty, in the alternator.

 

[dougie201]

Hi.
Sorry my mistake yes you are quite right. Red light on shows no charge.

I would have thought the fitter would have wired the towbar electrics in through the fuse box. And not taken a feed from the altinator as the voltage would be to high for the van !!

Dougie....

 

[Grahamh]

I have 56 mondeo esate and wired my own towbar. Found Mondeo a lot more difficult that last car(Vauxhall) where all the wires came from a single point on one side rear light. The mondeo I had to wire from both rear lights. I took the constant 12v from the battery and fed it right thru (via a fuse) the car to the back. Also, I recall, I had to fit a special box thingy in the rear of the car which sensed voltage to ensure you couldn't flatten car battery. Mine was 13 pin tho but not much difference.

 

[RogerL]

Dougie - when the engine is running, ie the alternator charging, the whole car is operating at 14.4-14.8 volts and so is the caravan when connected, they're both designed that way - 12v is just a nominal figure

 

[seth1]

I would presume with a loose battery terminal the car would struggle to start and by now the post would be burnt of the battery.
The type of alternator fitted to the modern Ford range is known as a DMF not to be confused with the flywheel. Lots of other manufactures use it to in 12v and 24v form.
It is special in the reason that the field coils are switched on and off by the body computer as when it needs tn the back of the Alt there is 6 /7 terminals heres the description.
B1- Not used but there anyway
B2- Battery positive.
DF- Not used
W - Ac output to body computer to test speed of alt against crankspeed(for belt slippage)
L- Charge signal to body computer,used to be bulb D+.Obviously the one to look at first.Has a permative neg been run to here?
15- Ignition feed,turn the field coils on and off.
S- This should never be connected to anything as it pulls the charge rate down to nothing.For some reason phone engineers always connect up to this.
Hope this helps.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

It's certainly not normal or acceptable - it could be something simple like a loose battery terminal when the extra wiring was added or it could be more involved - just give your mobile man a call, explain the problem and get him back to fix it.

hi I agree with Roger if it's a fault that was not there before having the bar fitted it must be something he has done wether is is something as simple as a loose or forgotton connector to a damaged componant get him back to look at it seeing as most mobile fitters are auto electricians anyway it should not be much of a problem for him to sort out.

 

[MrMondeo]

Thanks for the helpful and informative posts, folks.

Turns out it was an astonishing coincidence. The alternator packed up the day the tow bar was fitted.
It was covered by the warranty and is already fixed; the garage said the tow bar fitter was in no way responsible.
Sorted.
Thanks again, Adrian.