Disco 2 Alternator woes

TaDa · Dec 14, 2021

I broke down last night!
Not me but my D2

all the dash pights flashed on and 20 seconds later it stopped.

the recovery guy tried to jump start it but the sparks when he connected his portable battery pack were impressive in the dark but flattened it 20 seconds

I have charged the battery all day and though I think it is dead it was still powerful enough to create some sparks and heat up the +ve cable

I suspect a knackered alternator

I need to get the car to the garage. is there any chance I can electrically disconnect the alternator and drive the car?

If so, is it easy?

(Apologies if this is a multiply repeated question - I struggled to find just the right thread using my mobile)

sierrafery · Dec 15, 2021

If the garage is not too far charge the battery to full, unplug the alternator's connector, remove maxi fusible link FL1 and improvise with a piece of wire to connect battery positive to the alternator's connector white/green wire, if you have a strong and healthy battery you should be able to drive it about half an hour this way

TaDa · Dec 15, 2021

Thanks....but...
The garage is about 20 minutes away, the battery is likely pretty poor after the abuse it has taken but I do have a second battery i could swap over half way

FL1 I can easily remove

I've got wire and I assume the white/green wire is one in the connector i need to disconnect

but I've no idea where the alternator connector is

is it easy to get to?

is it likely that the short I get as soon as I connect the positive to the battery is due to the alternator?

and, if so, does that observation make any difference to the advice above?

BTW I am impressed that you Sierrafery are still as very involved as you always were
- I appreciate it and it makes me feel only slightly guilry that I fantasised about getting rid of the D2 and getting a car that half decent fuel economy and not 20 years old

sierrafery · Dec 15, 2021

The alternator's connector is not very easy to reach but doable(see pic), once unlugged and FL1 removed the battery cable must not be hot anymore if the alternator was the problem, if it's some other short it will heat up again

TaDa · Dec 16, 2021

Thanks!

When I get home I will send my smaller handed wife out to undo that! (I will try first - honest)Then I can check if the battery still gets shorted

what is the point of connecting the white/green wire on the alternator to the positive terminal?
(or was that to the white/green wire in the disconnected connector to synthesise an alternator producing 12v?)

I do kinda enjoy this but I think it would be more fun if I had the D2 as a plaything and not only car

sierrafery · Dec 16, 2021

TaDa said:
was that to the white/green wire in the disconnected connector to synthesise an alternator producing 12v?

Yes

TaDa · Dec 19, 2021

I took a look
I must confess my heart was not fully in it and on top of that it was cold and I had time pressures.
So after those poor excuses I have to confess that I could not get my hand to the connector and rgus could not perform the test.
If the inlet manifold (I think) wasn't in the way it would've been a whole lot easier.

I might get a sudden rush of blood to the head tomorrow but I fear she will be trailered to the garage.

Thanks @sierrafery for your guidance!

Stanleysteamer · Dec 19, 2021

TaDa said:
I took a look
I must confess my heart was not fully in it and on top of that it was cold and I had time pressures.
So after those poor excuses I have to confess that I could not get my hand to the connector and rgus could not perform the test.
If the inlet manifold (I think) wasn't in the way it would've been a whole lot easier.

I might get a sudden rush of blood to the head tomorrow but I fear she will be trailered to the garage.

Thanks @sierrafery for your guidance!

Disco 2 Alternator woes

TaDa

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sierrafery

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TaDa

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sierrafery

Well-Known Member

TaDa

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sierrafery

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TaDa

Active Member

Stanleysteamer

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