Thread: alternator on way out

Hi Disco Gazza,
I had nearly the same problem but mine "bounced" around a bit. I think I also found the answer on this forum.
It was a simple as a loose spade connector.

On the back of your alternator there is a single wire onto a 6mm spade terminal. Remove the spade connector from the terminal (push fit) and clean it up.
Give the spade terminal (female section attached to the wire) a slight squeeze with some pliers to crimp it up a little where it slides onto the male spade section and then push it back on.
Your tacho should be like new again!
If not - then maybe someone else may be able to help some more.
Let me know how it works out!
Matti

If its not the connector on the back of the alternator loose or dirty the alternator could be on its way out - worth having it checked out before it fails completely.
With certain faults it is possible to not have the alternator light come on but have no RPM indication. I had that happen twice with my 200TDi. On one occasion I had the RPM jumping around a bit soon before it went to zero. I ended up with a new Lucas Alternator - the front bearing on that failed after only 12 months!

regards

Have already checked the connections on the back of the alternator - all seem good..
I'm pretty sure that I had to get the alternator redone 12-14 mths ago--but cant remember wether it was my old green disco or its this one,I'll have to find the receipt to make sure.The alternator is the maranello type,not the lucas one.

Thanks for the suggestions so far...

cheers

disco gazza
92 disco tdi

The alternator is the maranello type,not the lucas one.

Magneto Marelli IS Lucas just name changed.

Regards Philip A

When I had the second alternator fail after about 12 months the auto electrician said he had seen a few on older diesels have the front bearing fail that in turn damaged the windings. His theory was that the relatively small bearings were not able to cope with the vibration environment on an older diesel particularly with the alternator mounted the way it is on a 200TDi.

I had heard worn bearing type noises coming from around the alternator but had dismissed them as being from the alternator as it was only about 11 months old - it failed a few weeks later.

Regards

mines a v8 D1...had a similar problem...noticed the tach was doing the same thing ..then the speedo started to do it too..after a few days it all came good and i thought it was fine ...so went off on a planned trip down through nanago and cooyar ..back up to do the old coach/esk rd a rout that was about 27 k's off road and some places you wouldn't want to get stuck in in the rain ...then on to the gold coast for a week of r&r inc a trip out to boonah with some of the GCLRO guys (not an official trip ofcource)..then back 400k's to Hervey bay....got to within 1km of our home here and she died on the spot ...battery dead....walked the rest of the way home and got an extra battery i had in the shed changed it over got home ..next day took down to the local LR shop and the alt was dead as some of the road kill we passed in the last 1000k's we had just traveled ...these were signs of the alternator going and i ignored them ....thank jinkers it didn't go on the old esk rd .....get it checked mate ...all for the best

cheers

Guys,
I think my alternator is on the way out(morelli type).
When idling there's no tacho,but when I get to 1500rpm it operates normally unless I let the revs get down below 1500.
Driving home tonight my lights were a little bit dimmer than normal.
Any hints as to what could be the problem.

Thanks

dsico gazza
92 disco tdi

Thanks for the reply guys

Any ideas on what would be a suitable alternator(besides lucas/magneti) for a D1 tdi.

Cheers

disco gazza
92 disco tdi