Does anyone have an explanation as to what each of the connections does? After a recent tow I'm keen to find out.

Millsn

Which type of alternator , if its the old ACR type it will have two large lucar and one small lucar connections , large being the charging. small the trigger for the warning light

uncle albert
It has three connections that I'm aware of
Two large and one small. They are all presented in a line.

Sounds like that's the acr alternator very simple , both large terminals are linked together for the charging circuit the smaller is the wire that goes to the ignition light

That sounds like there's no exciter lead ie that the battery would charge as long as the two main leads are connected. Can't imagine why a two year old alternator that's been used about twice might fail. Any ideas Chris? Its no where near the exhaust

Its because Lucas reconditioned alternators are made of cheese. Sometimes you get a good one, other times they are simply a waste of time.

I gave up about 4 years ago and fitted a Denso off a 1988 Daihatsu Charade GTTi, cost me a tenner. Made a bracket and found a suitable belt at Halfords. Charge voltage is around 14.3 volts whereas even a good Lucas can only manage 13.7 volts.

IMPORTANT WARNING Do not buy a Denso alternator off E-Bay etc, they are cheap Chinese copies. Mate bought one from a well know seller when he saw mine,cost him £250 for the kit. 50 miles and 3 alternators later the seller was blaming him for fitting it incorrectly. He got his money back and bought a Denso for £15 from a breaker and its still working fine almost 4 years on. He spoke to Denso and they told him an easy way to spot the fakes, they are labelled as "Nippon Denso" a name Denso stopped using in the 90's when they started selling more parts for European cars.

Caterham Zetec
Despairing to hear. Mines located below my TBs ie under them and my inboard suspension. Makes changing the alternator a mare.

So is mine, that is why I was keen to find a reliable solution. Fitting the Denso is much easier since its smaller (once you have made the brackets). You would need to change the terminals on the wires and add a 4th wire (switched live) but its not difficult.

Caterham Zetec
£160 from camskill exchange. I assume you got yours from the breakers?

Actually got it from a bloke up the street. But if I needed another I would be off the scrappie.

Most recon units are a waste of time. They simply clean them up and test them, if they give the correct voltage the pass them off a a recon unit. If they fail they simply swap the unit. Cheaper than doing a proper job.