Thread: 98 V8 Disco, Lights surging and engine cut out

Originally Posted by The_Doctor

Hey all,

Having some problems with the beast.

Got her back from the spanners about two weeks ago and all was well.

Drove her with a pretty heavy trailer down to NSW from QLD (about 900km), Still no worries.

Didnt turn a wheel for two weeks after that, though I did leave one of the interior lights on for a few days, I cranked her over and idled her for awhile, Still no problem that i noticed.

Took her out today and the engine just cut out....but before the tacho can even drop to 0, she bursts into life again and continues as if all is normal, But now all the lights (dash, interior, brake lights and headlights) are now surging once I start up and the alternator kicks in.

When i say surging its a flicker that dims and brightens at a pretty steady rate.

Once i shut her down the lights all go back to normal.


What the thoughts guys?

Cheers

Steve

Steve, the regulator is the only thing that can cause a pulse in the headlamps, have you put an analogue voltmeter across the batt? Digital one may not react quickly enough.

JC

I shouldnt have mentioed the headlights as i didnt have a chance to check them, all interior lights, dash lights are affected.

As the tach is driven by the alternator, not the ignition, it is likely the alternator internal regulator is hernia'd. It probably caused a short circuit before it blew the relevant component and allowed power to flow again.

When mine did this it was a crook stator.

Swapping the reg didn't help initially, but mine never died then came back, it got progressively worse over a period of time and my tach would dart all over the place.

Definitely alternator related, try the reg first, much cheaper than swapping the whole kit and kaboodle.

Had a whole new alternator installed about 4 months back, only cause the regulator on the old one gave out and they couldnt get hold of a new one.

Is it gonna be ok to use in the interum?