Charging System Inspection
Also called alternator check
This inspection looks at everything that keeps the battery charged: alternator output, the drive belt and its tension, the main charging cables and earth connections, and any circuit drawing current while the car is parked. It is a diagnosis. It identifies why the battery is losing charge and what it will take to fix, but the repair itself, such as replacing an alternator or tracing a shorted circuit, is quoted separately once the cause is known.
Signs you need this
- Battery goes flat every few days for no clear reason
- Battery warning light stays on or flickers while driving
- Headlights brighten and dim as engine speed changes
- Squealing noise from the belt area on start-up
- A replacement battery failed within months of being fitted
Not all of these have to be present, and one of them on its own can mean something else entirely. That is what the diagnosis is for.
What the job includes
- Alternator output measured at idle and under electrical load
- Drive belt condition and tension check
- Voltage drop tests on the main charging and earth cables
- Parasitic drain measurement with the car locked and asleep
- Battery condition test to separate battery faults from charging faults
- Written findings with the measured values
How we do it
Establish the pattern
We record how quickly the battery drains, what is fitted to the car, and whether any aftermarket wiring has been added.
Measure charging output
Alternator voltage and current are checked with lights, blower and other loads switched on to simulate real driving.
Test cables and earths
Voltage drop testing finds corroded or loose connections that stop a working alternator from charging the battery properly.
Hunt the drain
With the car locked and modules asleep, current draw is measured and fuses pulled one by one to isolate the circuit.
Report and quote
You get the readings, the identified cause and a separate quote for the repair work that follows.
How we work
The same on every job, which is why we can write it down.
Diagnosis before quote
We find the fault first. A price given over the phone for a noise nobody has heard is a guess.
The price is agreed first
You approve the work and the cost before a spanner is picked up. Extra work means another call.
Parts you can check
We tell you whether a part is genuine, OEM, aftermarket or used, and what each one costs.
Old parts returned
Ask and we will hand back whatever we replaced. It is the simplest proof that the job was done.
Book charging system inspection
Fill this in and a person will call you back to confirm the time and the price. Only your name and one way to reach you are required.
You send this
Takes a minute. No payment, no obligation.
We call you
To confirm the car, the time and the location.
Tell us the car and the symptom
We will arrange a mechanic at your location, or a slot at the nearest workshop. No payment until the price is agreed.