D3 Christmas tree

[PeterOZ]

The D3 decided it did not want to play last week. Was driving back from sunny coast and heard a couple of "bong, bong" noises but nothing seen on the displays.


Thought no more about it. Was then driving the next day and got the suspension fault light come on, first amber, then to red. Bugger I thought.


Next a bunch of other warning lights came on including "NO HDC" and a rather large F on the far right display. D3 went into limp mode and eventually the Nav system flickered a few times then went blank. Eventually all instruments, speedo, RPM etc went totally blank and engine died but wipers started to go on their own accord and could not turn them off without removing the key.


Went and borrowed some jumper leads as I immediately thought battery. Got my trusty Fluke 77 out and battery measured about 10.4v.


Got a jump start, and turned off aircon and all else I could, limped it back home. Charged up the fitted battery and my old one. Next day same thing happened. I was leaning towards battery for a while as it took over a day to charge from dead to nearly 12v. Another day on deep charge brought it up over 13.5v.


Fitted to the D3 though and with motor running the batter was 12.6V with engine@ 2500 RPM so decided it must be alternator.


Rang MR Auto last Wed, 31 Dec to see what they thought. Nothing could be done till Monday when they reopened.


As I did not want to risk driving it over there some 50km and risk breaking down on the hornibrook bridge I had it put on a tilt tray truck yesterday. $145 so not too bad for peace of mind.


MR fitted me in straight away and fitted a new alternator which was lucky they had one in stock. So back pocket much lighter but D3 happy again.


Goes to show if you are getting Christmas lights on the dash check the battery and charge rate.

Was going to post some pics but under the new $11 fee thing I guess I don't have that option. Bit poor that.

cheers
P

[Scouse]

Was going to post some pics but under the new $11 fee thing I guess I don't have that option. Bit poor that.

Have a look here:
SITE UPGRADES


Incisor's still sorting the problem out.

[Homestar]

Yep, upload your pics to an image hosting site like photbucket or flickr for the time being and copy the image code into your post and the pics will appear.

[Graeme]

As I did not want to risk driving it over there some 50km and risk breaking down on the hornibrook bridge I had it put on a tilt tray truck yesterday. $145 so not too bad for peace of mind.

Probably saved you the cost of a new battery too.

[PeterOZ]

most likely Graeme. I do very small rips during the week, probably a 5 min run to/from train station of a morning.

Can't see those being very good for either battery or charging system. Might need one of those cirtek top up gadgets.

I saw on a post somewhere one that plugs into the trailer socket and float charges the battery overnight.

anyway since new alternator was fitted no dramas - touch wood, head in lieu of wood in the office. Does paper count?

[Leroy_Riding]

What did the new alternator cost if you don't mind me asking? (part only not the labor)

Leroy.

[PeterOZ]

They are about $750 plus labour to fit.

I would have gotten one from the UK and fitted it myself but was the holiday period, and as the D3 is my only vehicle I was stuck.

You can get them landed from the UK for about $400 AUD.

check you battery voltage with engine off

then check with engine at say about 2500 RPM. Id be expecting > 14v
Under 13v I woul expect alternator on way out.

If you are gtting well over 13v then suspect the battery.

I'll suggest all your faults are most likey low battery voltage related. These D3/4/RRS do not like low battery volts.

[PeterOZ]

christmas tree and charging of the battery using my RC charger.

I initially charged it for 2 days on my old heavy duty truck charger at low rate. Got it to just on 12v

another day on the swallow to get it to over 13v