Thread: Low Alternator output?

Originally Posted by drivesafe

The fact you have that smell, particularly if it is an electrical burning smell, you need to disconnect your cranking battery till you sort out what's going on.

When the alternator goes in these Land Rovers, it can literally suck the hell out of your cranking battery and damage it as well.

Thankyou for your prompt advice it is much appreciated.

My next door neighbour owns a business in Hobart which specialises in European cars (Audi/Saab etc) and vehicle elec work and in particular is a highly regarded Bosch service agent.
He did all the elec work on the D4 for trailer towing, Anderson plug, etc. so I left it with him at 8 am this morning.
His business is only 4 klms up the road from me near the airport.

This coming weekend is a Long weekend in Tas and I need the car so necessary to get it sorted asap.

Car started fine this morning; I hadn't disconnected the battery as per your advice, simply 'cos I went off line last night before seeing it.
On the drive over the Scanguage fluctuated between 13.8 and 12.2/12.4 but mostly at 12.2V

Intended replacing alternator as preventative m/ance anyway prior to next mainland trip (COVID depending! ) so I don't feel too bad about the failure except at "only" 150,000 klms, although apparently that's normal?
At least I now know I wouldn't have unnecessarily replaced it..............

My original alternator went at 132k, though thankfully by way of a charging system fault, coupled with a very confusing system error that had even the expert indie scratching his head for a few days.

Back to today, and I charged the battery up, then ran a replacement battery cycle in the car, because frankly after the other repairs so far this year I really didn’t want to add this.

Started up fine, and happily charging around 14.7v, ramping up from low 12 after starting, just as it should. Phew!

I think you were on the money drivesafe!! And I need to spend less time worrying :-)