Electrical Misery

**Bytemrk** · 19th August 2009, 04:29 PM

Well, I think I am up for a replacement alternator and main battery as well.

The first sign of trouble was this morning... I went out to the car... plip wouldn't unlock it - so I grabbed the spare key assuming it was the plip battery... that didn't work either.

I unlocked the car with a key - no screaming alarm or flashing light - so I knew things weren't so happy. Thanks to my battery isolator - the car still started fine on the second battery, I was running late to work - so figured I'd check it out properly as soon as I could.

On the way to work the ABS lights came on...

..

I parked at work and the remotes locked and unlocked the car as normal... so very puzzled I figured I'd sus it out at lunch time.

At lunch, Nanocom showed me several ABS faults.. and my multimeter showed me 8.34v at the main battery with the motor running

The trip home got interesting.... as the DII needs a decent electrical supply and my 2nd battery only connects on ignition - unless the main is at full charge... we traveled home with the transition in limp mode, a variety of different warning lights on and off on the dash - the speedo working intermittently and every so often those lovely Land Rover chimes - just in case I wasn't irritated enough...

It's home in the driveway now main battery is on my charger - but at 6.54v I don't hold out much hope of a recovery .... off to Roverland in the morning...

As I am off on a trip in 3 weeks - it was booked in next week anyway for a few things..... looks like I'll be donating a bit more to Glen's retirement fund than I was planning

I know it's better it happened in Bayswater than Birdsville .. but right now its' hard to stay objective....

Mark

**Graeme** · 19th August 2009, 05:03 PM

What makes you think there's something wrong with the alternator? If you start the vehicle using the 2nd battery and disconnect the primary, what's the voltage?

**Bytemrk** · 19th August 2009, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Graeme

What makes you think there's something wrong with the alternator? If you start the vehicle using the 2nd battery and disconnect the primary, what's the voltage?

Thanks Graeme,

Somehow I convinced myself the voltage I was measuring with the motor running was the alternator output.

(It's been a hectic week)

I didn't realise I could disconnect the battery and have it still run - I am sure I have seen TD5's die when disconnected from a battery but obviously the ecu etc will run straight off the alternator.

I just did as you suggested and I'm getting a little over 14v

Thank You!.... I am feeling a trifle silly now... but I am very pleased to be wrong..

A new battery certainly doesn't hurt as much as what I had convinced myself I was facing..

Cheers, Mark

**Scouse** · 19th August 2009, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Bytemrk

I didn't realise I could disconnect the battery and have it still run - I am sure I have seen TD5's die when disconnected from a battery but obviously the ecu etc will run straight off the alternator.

I just did as you suggested and I'm getting a little over 14v

I hope you mean you ran the engine with the 2nd battery & didn't disconnect both batteries at once while the engine was running.

Serious damage can be done otherwise.

**Bytemrk** · 19th August 2009, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse

I hope you mean you ran the engine with the 2nd battery & didn't disconnect both batteries at once while the engine was running.

Serious damage can be done otherwise.

Yes second battery did remain connected.

What sort of damage is possible Scott?

Mark

**td express** · 19th August 2009, 08:19 PM

Hey Bytmrk,

I think Glen has spent a fair chunk of his retirement fund of late, as he is back from Canada next Monday I believe. Lucky bugger.

I will race ya to his gate, as I have a list for him too.

**DI5CO** · 19th August 2009, 09:57 PM

This happened to me on the way to work a few months ago, lights started flashing, lighting up like a chrissy tree, no speedo, fuel etc. Cant remember the name, but they changed something in the altenator, which had been changed before with a non genuine one. So you may not need to change the alternator.
Dave.

**Scouse** · 19th August 2009, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Bytemrk

What sort of damage is possible Scott?

Mark

I'm not too sure of the ins & outs of it but it's something along the lines of the alternator becoming unregulated & giving the car a massive spike. On older cars (non injection), it could destroy the alternator so I'd hate to think what it could do to a D2.

**Bytemrk** · 19th August 2009, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse

I'm not too sure of the ins & outs of it but it's something along the lines of the alternator becoming unregulated & giving the car a massive spike. On older cars (non injection), it could destroy the alternator so I'd hate to think what it could do to a D2.

I don't think I'll put my hand up to find out hey

Mark

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