New starter motor now alternator not working

Just changed the starter motor on my 1999 2.5DT P38. The car now starts perfectly although as soon as I fired it up using the new starter motor the computer shows alternator fault.

Apart from not starting easily the car ran perfectly on the old starter motor, there were no alternator faults.

Multimeter on the battery shows that when running there is 11.7v. A continuity test from the alternator power lead to the negative battery lead shows there is a connection. Having never done an alternator continuity test before I am unsure if that was the correct way to do it.

Is there any way the starter motor can affect the alternator? All I can think is that there is a problem with the new motor causing it to pull a constant draww from the battery which is showing up as an alternator fault. I just find it odd that the brand new alternator has given up the ghost the instant te new starter motor went on.

Also, the new motor has four connections on it and I only have 3 cables to attach to it. Does any one have a picture or a diagram showing which cable goes where? I'm reluctant to move any of the cables as at the moment the car starts and runs with the only problem being the battery losing power.

continuity should be to live terminal not to earth?? check all ya connections and make sure starter isn't shorting anywhere.

when running you want 13.5 to 14.5 volts output from Alternator

Hmm, I did try it to the positive first but there was no continuity so I then tried to the negative which worked.


I've just been outside to check the connections and I took this pic:



Anything look suspect there?