Defender elecrics

**justinc** · 13th August 2009, 08:39 PM

Hmmm, this may help someone out.

I have been tracing a fault with a Td5 Defender alternator. No lamp on dash, therefore no exciter supply or an alternator open circuit internally, RAVE told me what wires and what fuses to check etc, all OK but still no warning lamp illuminated when key on. Alternator checks out fine, wiring harness OK and plugs OK. No voltage to Green/ yellow wire yet all fuses RAVE mentioned are fine. Getting stressed now as it is 6:30pm and time to go home. Then I notice vehicle has blown brake lamp fuse again (Had this problem the other day). DONT tell me...

correct. The brake lamp fuse circuit is also supply to the alternator 12volt ignition supply. NO mention of it anywhere. Still, now I have to find the short in the brake lamps, starting with the trailer hitch tomorrow morning.

These things are sent to try us I'm sure

At least now the owner dosen't need an alternator overhaul etc.

JC

**Scouse** · 13th August 2009, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by justinc

NO mention of it anywhere.

I'm surprised you haven't come across this before. It was first mentioned on a LR bulletin ages ago & I have seen it a few times over the years.

**austastar** · 14th August 2009, 08:20 AM

Hi,
clip a 12V indicator or similar globe across the blown fuse posts, it will supply sufficient current to find the fault without overheating the wire.
Lamp on = short circuit.
cheers

**Psimpson7** · 14th August 2009, 08:23 AM

Thats an interesting one Justin. cheers.

**justinc** · 14th August 2009, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Scouse

I'm surprised you haven't come across this before. It was first mentioned on a LR bulletin ages ago & I have seen it a few times over the years.

Well, we DO live down too far south you know Scott

I have it now firmly entrenched in the memory now after yestardays little episode

JC

**Scouse** · 14th August 2009, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by justinc

Well, we DO live down too far south you know Scott

Sorry, my mistake JC.

Hey, have you heard that Malcolm Fraser is PM yet?

**Cap** · 14th August 2009, 02:34 PM

bwahahahaha - someone told me the first man on the moon landed, just heard this now.

**Scouse** · 14th August 2009, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by stooge

bwahahahaha - someone told me the first man on the moon landed, just heard this now.

Wait until you get TV - you'll be able to see him then

.

**dmdigital** · 14th August 2009, 07:27 PM

JC, as long as the wiring harness hasn't rubbed inside the chassis rail you should find the short easily enough.

Scouse, in Tassie they have enough problems with local members for all the political parties being related.

**justinc** · 19th August 2009, 05:02 PM

Right, found the problem

At some point the trans cooler lines had been out to repair an oil leak at the adapter on the extension housing. In fact I remembered that when I inspected this vehicle prior to purchase I noted the oil leak and the car yard repaired it prior to sale.

A NOTE to Td5 Defender owners:

If the big, heavy, main wiring harnesses that travel across the LH side of the transmission are NOT zip tied back onto their little bracket, the weight of them will either tear the wires out of the reverse lamp switch, or in this case allow them to rub through on the side of the transmission, blowing the reverse lamps, brake lamps and ALTERNATOR feed fuse

There, all better now

JC

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