Opel Astra J cars are equipped with a three-phase alternating current generator with a built-in rectifier unit and an electronic voltage regulator, right-hand rotation (if you look from the drive side).
Fig. 1. Generator parts: 1 – protective cover; 2 – voltage regulator, combined with a brush unit; 3 – rectifier block; 4 – cover from the contact ring side; 5 – centering sleeve of the rear rotor bearing; 6 – stator; 7 – rotor; 8 – spacer washer; 9 – drive side cover; 10 – pulley; 11 – pulley mounting nut lock washer; 12 – pulley mounting nut; 13 – screws for fastening the rotor shaft front bearing plate; 14 – tie bolts; 15 – nuts for fastening the protective casing; 16 – screws for fastening the voltage regulator and rectifier unit
Stator 6 (Fig. 1) and covers 4 and 9 are pulled together by four bolts 14. Rotor shaft 7 rotates in bearings installed in the covers. Power supply to the rotor winding (excitation winding) is supplied through brushes and slip rings.
Three-phase alternating current induced in the stator winding is converted into direct current by rectifier unit 3, attached to cover 4. Electronic voltage regulator 2, combined with brush holder, is also attached to cover 4. Voltage for excitation of the generator when ignition is turned on is supplied to the terminal block of the regulator.
The generator operation is monitored by the battery discharge indicator lamp located in the instrument cluster. When the ignition is turned on, the lamp should light up, and after the engine starts, it should go out if the generator is in good working order. Bright or dim lighting of the lamp indicates malfunctions.
Note. Recently, many companies have appeared that specialize in repairing imported starters and generators. There, you can diagnose a faulty unit, purchase spare parts for any generator (starter) model, and get qualified advice. If you are not sure that you can repair a generator (starter) yourself, it makes sense to contact a company that will repair these units quickly, efficiently, and at an affordable price. However, on cars with high mileage, it is often more profitable to replace the unit as a whole with a new one than to replace the failed parts.
Table 1. Possible generator malfunctions, their causes and methods of elimination
Cause of malfunction | Method of elimination |
When the ignition is turned on, the low battery indicator light does not light | |
Broken wire between generator, ignition switch and indicator light | Fix the break |
The signal lamp burned out | Replace the lamp |
The generator is faulty (the generator brushes are worn out or do not fit tightly to the contact rings, the generator field winding is burned out, the diode sensor is faulty bridge or voltage regulator) | Replace or repair the generator |
The low battery warning light does not go out after starting the engine | |
Weak alternator drive belt tension | Adjust the belt tension |
The generator diode bridge is faulty | Repair the generator |
Short circuit of the wire between the generator and the signal lamp to "ground" | Insulate the wire |
The low battery indicator light comes on when the ignition is off | |
Generator faulty | Replace or repair the generator |
The generator does not charge the battery | |
Oxidation of battery terminals | Clean, secure and lubricate the wire ends and battery terminals with petroleum jelly |
The battery is faulty | Replace the battery |
Weak alternator drive belt tension | Adjust the belt tension |
Generator faulty (rectifier bridge) | Repair the generator |
The battery is recharging | |
The generator (voltage regulator, rectifier bridge) | Repair the generator |
Increased voltage drop in the generator-battery circuit | Check, clean, tighten or replace contact connections in the ignition switch, fuses, connectors, check the connection of the generator housing to the "ground" |
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