The generator is one of the main devices without which the car will not go far. A number of factors affect its performance. If the generator stops working, find out the reasons for the breakdown and try to fix it yourself.
The most common cause of a generator malfunction is a lack of excitation. To test the generator's performance, it is necessary to attach the positive terminal of the battery to it at 1000 rpm of the engine. Before that, it is imperative to give a load (turn on the headlights), otherwise the switch and other electronics may fail. If the engine stalls, the generator will not work. First of all, check if the alternator belt has broken. If the belt is intact, then most likely it is loose. Check the belt tension: the deflection at a force of 10 kgf should be no more than 1 cm. Also, the belt can be splashed with oil and slip. In this situation, it must be replaced, in extreme cases, wiped with gasoline. If the belt is well tensioned, clean and not torn, then check the field winding fuses. Usually, you just need to move them, and then everything will work. This is especially true for domestic classics (VAZ-2105, 2106, 2107), where the fuse mounts are weak. If, after the operations performed, the generator still does not work, then remove the generator. The first step is to inspect the brushes for wear - they may need to be replaced. You should also pay attention to slip rings. If they are dirty, clean them. Now check the generator again for proper operation. If it does not show signs of life, then arm yourself with a tester and check the circuit. After all the operations done, only two reasons remain. Either the voltage regulator is faulty, or the generator itself. In the generator, rectifier diodes most often burn out. Each diode must be “ringed” with a tester and, if it turns out to be faulty, replace it. If all diodes are intact, then check the stator windings. This is done with a simple tester by shorting both ends of the winding with it. If the stator winding is defective, it can be replaced. However, shops can find damaged stators, since they are checked in the same way.
