A generator malfunction is signaled by the illuminated charging indicator lamp on the dashboard. If a breakdown occurs on the way, then movement is possible until the battery is discharged, so you need to get to the garage or repair shop as soon as possible.
If, when driving a VAZ car, the emergency red lamp for charging the battery lights up, then you can check whether there is charging or not in one simple way. With the engine running, you need to remove the positive terminal from the battery, and if the engine continues to run, then there is charging, and if it stops, the battery is not charged.
In the first case, you need to check the wiring going from the generator to the fuse box and to the dashboard. It often happens that a fuse burns out or oxidizes. In the second case, you will have to remove and check the generator. A frequent breakdown in this case is the failure of the voltage regulator relay.
It should be remembered that this method can only be used on carburetor engines; on injection engines, these manipulations can lead to failure of the electronic injector control unit.
Removing the generator from the vehicle
The procedure for removing the generator is simple and within the power of any motorist. To do this, you need two keys for 17 and a key for 10 to disconnect the wires. Before starting work, you must disconnect the battery by removing the terminals from it. Next, unscrew the self-locking nut on the bracket for tensioning the alternator belt, then move the alternator towards the engine and remove the belt.
Disconnect all leads from the generator. Then, holding the generator mounting bolt with one wrench from turning, unscrew the nut with the second wrench. Remove the bolt from the bracket and remove the generator from the engine.
Generator check and repair
On cars VAZ 2101 - 2107 and VAZ 2108 - 21099, the same type of generators are installed. Therefore, for all these models, the procedure for checking and repairing the generator will be the same.
At the beginning of disassembly, you need to remove the voltage regulator relay by unscrewing the screws that secure it with a screwdriver. The generator body consists of three parts, tightened with pins. To disassemble the generator, unscrew the nuts from the studs and detach the front and rear covers from the stator housing.
To check the relay regulator, connect a test lamp to the brushes. Connect "+" of the 12 V voltage source to the positive terminal, and connect "-" to the brush holder body. When a voltage of 12 V is applied, the lamp should light up, and when the voltage rises to 16 V, it should go out. If this does not happen, replace the relay regulator.
Connect the tester to the slip rings of the rotor, if the windings do not ring out, then there is a break in them, and the rotor will have to be replaced. Connect one wire from a 12 volt test lamp with a power source to the rotor housing, and the other alternately to the slip rings. If the lamp lights up, then there is a short circuit in the winding, and the rotor also needs to be replaced.
Inspect the stator from the inside, if there are traces of rubbing by the rotor - replace the bearings or both covers. To check the stator windings, connect a test lamp to the windings, in all three cases the lamp should light up, if not, there is an open circuit and the stator or winding must be replaced. To check for a short circuit, connect one wire from the test lamp to the stator housing, and the second one in turn to the winding terminals. The lamp should not light up if lit - also replace the stator or winding.
To check the diodes of the rectifier unit, connect the "+" of the power source through the test lamp to the terminal "30" of the generator, and the minus to the body. If the control lamp is on, then there is a short circuit in the unit and it also needs to be replaced.
After troubleshooting and replacing defective parts, assemble the generator, install it on the car and tighten the belt according to the instructions.
