Another D3 alternator bites the dust

**Owl** · 30th March 2014, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by ~Rich~

It's not just about Volts, it's also important what it's doing on the Amp side too as I found out today! My car this morning had all sorts of weird things happening . The instrument panel display and interior lights where alternation bright and dim, the engine was slightly shuddering when this occurred and the info screen kept on resetting itself. Not to mention the radio cutting in and out too! Seems that some sort of spike has damaged my diodes in the alternator, Grrr I was going away tomorrow 4wding for the weekend. Too late to source a replacement and too much of a risk to other components if I drive it like it is.

My mechanic has come to the conclusion that these new day alternators have a service life of 100,000 k.

$800 from one supplier and $1134 from Alto just for the alternator.

Mmmmmmmm.....

Must be that time of the year!

My Alternator light came on as I drove to work Friday morning. Only 20 min later the dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree then goes dead - not even the speedo or tacho functional. Then the engine goes dead mid turn - no power steering or brakes.

I'm also planning a 4wd weekend!

Thanks to an RACV Total Care flat top tow and the service department at Ritters, I had a going car back on Friday night and a good weekend away. And only (!) a tad over $1,000.00 lighter in the hip pocket.

**bbyer** · 31st March 2014, 02:59 AM

I wonder if replacing the alternator will still be a thousand dollars when the whole vehicle is worth five thousand. If so, I think I perceive a problem. At times, the future direction of vehicle design concerns me.

**Tinman** · 31st March 2014, 07:48 AM

Went to get my service book out of the D3 yesterday and the remote wouldn't open the car got the second one same result. Had to open the vehicle manually. Seems that while the D3 had been sitting stationery with the faulty alternator it had drained my battery down to 2.3 volts. I quickly disconnected the battery and placed it on the battery charger. Seems to be charging up ok. Could have been even a greater disarster. Have ordered the Jaylec alternator to try instead of the Denso alternator. I am getting new diodes fitted to the failed one and will keep it as a spare. Only time will tell if this one will last longer.

**Rich84** · 31st March 2014, 08:03 AM

Replacing the alternator cost me $500 for OEM Denso at Rovacraft...

That's still too much if it becomes a regular occurrence. 50k down the road though and no further issues.

Are you guys doing a lot of dusty work or water crossings? Just wondering if that may have anything to do with it.

**Tinman** · 31st March 2014, 03:47 PM

No haven't done much in the last 12 months a couple of trips down the coast on the black top. Have been waiting to have fusion back surgery. Had that late November so normal driving to and from work for the boss that's about it maybe 20,000klms maximum on this alternator, no faults nothing to indicate it was about to fail

**~Rich~** · 1st April 2014, 08:24 PM

Well!
Mechanic fitted new alternator and

same problem existed!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mdyq2sz3dq...d%20Milton.avi

Ignore RPM, but once link to secondary battery isolated the issue disappeared!
They swapped the alternator back - not stuffed after all.
All running perfectly, just not connected to the secondary.
Still trying to figure out what the issue is now!
Testing both batteries, it should not be an isolator issue though.

**Tinman** · 3rd April 2014, 05:46 AM

Had the new Jaylec alternator fitted yesterday has fixed my problem. Auxiliary battery charging as well as the main. The Jaylec alternator is not branded and is identical to the Denso one it replaced. Having a new diode plate installed in the old Denso and save as a spare IF required.

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