TD5 Died? Help please Guys

[Cloughy]

Gone for a 10km drive to the local discount liquor outlet, as we do on Sunday. Only 3-4 kms into the trip and all instruments stop ... SRS light comes on ... no headlights, no indicators ... wipers work but very slow. At this point in time, the motor is running fine and as I am very low on reserves at home, decide to continue to the destination. I park, and erring on the side of caution, leave "Larry" running while I duck inside for a carton or two.
I return to the car and it is still idling fine. I leave the parking lot and the motor falters a couple of times, then comes good????? Went another 200 mtrs and it all starts shutting down.
Parked on the side of the road - wont start (or turn over). No lights, Indicator etc. Flat battery? Radio works fine, A/C fan works, UHF works?? Turn all these on and try to start the vehicle and they still work (have full power), but nothing else will work.
Tried the Nanocom, but it says it cant find ECU?????
Plot thickens!
A mate gives me a tow to a safe park, I take my refreshments out and lock it up - mate takes me home.
Now time to ponder the problem - I replaced the battery a few weeks ago as the old one (2yr old) seemed to have dropped a cell. I am now a little suspicious that I may have an earth problem, but will be unable to check this until i get "Larry" home. Mind you, all earths that I can check on the side o the road have been checked.

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for me to think about while i wait to get it home??

Any suggestions welcome
Thanks Cloughy

[Graeme]

Sounds like it could be no earth between the engine and the body. I can't recall where the earth strap is but seem to remember that its in a strange or awkward spot.

[Cloughy]

Sounds like it could be no earth between the engine and the body. I can't recall where the earth strap is but seem to remember that its in a strange or awkward spot.

Thanks Graeme, I do hope you are right as it will be an easy fix if that is the problem!

Cloughy

[Tins]

When mine did something similar it was the alternator. But I'm guessing you checked that.

[maxperformance]

I could tell from my experience is that those accessories could run from about 8.8V - "Radio works fine, A/C fan works, UHF works". They run do not mean you have full power from the battery or car. But your ECU and instrument really need power from about 11+V and higher.

So it seems to me you got either a bad earth cable, bad alternator charging cable, or bad alternator (assuming your recent battery replacement is like new).

[admiralranga]

Sounds like it could be no earth between the engine and the body. I can't recall where the earth strap is but seem to remember that its in a strange or awkward spot.

Hiding on the alternator bracket from memory. OP if you're struggling to find it I'll post a pic tomorrow as it's obvious on a removed engine.

[Bohica]

A battery ought to last more then 2 years. I bought mine in September 2015, it still has the same battery. I don't know when it was fitted as, the date tabs are still there. This does indicate to me that it could be the the alternator or earth strap.
BTW the Valente needed a new battery after 6 years.

[Graeme]

Removed..

[Cloughy]

When mine did something similar it was the alternator. But I'm guessing you checked that.

I have not had an opportunity to check anything yet - Tilt Tray is bringing "Larry" home tomorrow. I will not have a chance to look at it till the weekend. Really just asking where i should start looking? All suggestions taken on board and I attack the problem Saturday.

[Blknight.aus]

ecu should auto shut down at around 10.5V from memory.

check your alternator output after charging the battery.

if need be chuck a crow or equivelent on it and eye it for diode ripple. if you dont have that turn on the frequency counter function and if you dont have that read the output on AC volts.

[Tins]

ecu should auto shut down at around 10.5V from memory.

Pretty much what mine did, and with the lights, wipers and heater all going it did not take long.. Alt light did come on, and from memory it bonged a few times, but don't quote me, it was a few years ago



if need be chuck a crow or equivelent on it and eye it for diode ripple. if you dont have that turn on the frequency counter function and if you dont have that read the output on AC volts.

Wanna run that by us in English, Dave?

[Blknight.aus]

Pretty much what mine did, and with the lights, wipers and heater all going it did not take long.. Alt light did come on, and from memory it bonged a few times, but don't quote me, it was a few years ago




Wanna run that by us in English, Dave?

Use the white man magic detectors to assess the chakra of the mystical confuzzlemazers.

[Bohica]

Pretty much what mine did, and with the lights, wipers and heater all going it did not take long.. Alt light did come on, and from memory it bonged a few times, but don't quote me, it was a few years ago




Wanna run that by us in English, Dave?

It is CRO. Cathode Ray Oscilloscope. The newer ones would have screens.

[onebob]

It is CRO. Cathode Ray Oscilloscope. The newer ones would have screens.

[emoji851].... would have DIGITAL screens and can be hand held at around the size of a large multimeter. Nice to have ..... [emoji6]

[Bohica]

[emoji851].... would have DIGITAL screens and can be hand held at around the size of a large multimeter. Nice to have ..... [emoji6]

My dad had one. About the size of a small loaf of bread.

[Graeme]

Or even small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, such as my DS0201.

[Tins]

Use the white man magic detectors to assess the chakra of the mystical confuzzlemazers.

Aah, now i get it. thanks Dave.

[Tins]

Or even small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, such as my DS0201.

OK, I'm getting one of those..

[onebob]

[emoji1432]..... a very desirable addition to the toolbox

[Blknight.aus]

I have and strongly reccomend this one...

10MHz/4000 Count Hand-held Scope DMM | Jaycar Electronics (https://www.jaycar.com.au/10mhz-4000-count-hand-held-scope-dmm/p/QM1577)

[MBE_NZ]

if damp theres your problem
replace the injector harness

[Tins]

if damp theres your problem
replace the injector harness

That will cause non starting, but will it cause all the other low voltage symptoms the OP reported? Probably not.