At my Wits End!!!

Hi people .....I'm absolutely at my wits end with my wife's disco TD5 .....it broke down the other day turns out the batt was dead as a dodo ... managed to drag it home with the help of a landy mate....charged the battery up on a slow 24hr charge.... put batt back on and tested with voltmeter 12.7-12.7V started up and seems like no charge coming back from the alt still just over 12v running..... so been and bought a recon alt fitted it still same??? Still running at under 13v as if running on the battery? I'm at a point now where I dint know what else to do it's driving me nuts.... gunna have to risk driving it to a garage.... any ideas folks... could it be a bad earth or something like that? TIA.

Eagle13 said:

Hi people .....I'm absolutely at my wits end with my wife's disco TD5 .....it broke down the other day turns out the batt was dead as a dodo ... managed to drag it home with the help of a landy mate....charged the battery up on a slow 24hr charge.... put batt back on and tested with voltmeter 12.7-12.7V started up and seems like no charge coming back from the alt still just over 12v running..... so been and bought a recon alt fitted it still same??? Still running at under 13v as if running on the battery? I'm at a point now where I dint know what else to do it's driving me nuts.... gunna have to risk driving it to a garage.... any ideas folks... could it be a bad earth or something like that? TIA.

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only thing i can think of , is maybe a loose wire in the connector plug that goes onto the alternator

are u able to check continuity from one end of the loom to the other

assume there's no warning lights

are all the fuses ok, does it share the same fuse as ur rear bulbs

is the recon alternator 100%

know that doesn't help u much

someone with far more experiance should be along soon to help

hope u get it sorted out

I would spend the extra money and get a good new one, it might seem dear but will pay in the long run, or maybe a good 2nd hand o/e one?

To test battery leave it for 24 hrs and then measure the voltage, anything under 12.5 is suspect but may be able to be saved with a trickle charger etc.

If you still have the old alt see if you can remove the brush box and if the brushes are worn you might be able to get a new set for a lot less than a new alt.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LANDROVER...678742?hash=item43f20bf516:g:tpUAAMXQBwlRI5y1

Or a complete alt http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROVE...422043?hash=item2f003c695b:g:hq0AAOSw4A5Y12lN

On the Td5 alternator there are a number of wires, a brown/yellow wire which goes to the charge warning light, a white/green wire which is the excitation circuit and is fed via a 10 amp fuse (F 24) in the passenger compartment fuse board and a heavier gauge brown wire which is the charging circuit and connects to the battery through a 150 Amp fuselink (Link 1) on the fuse board under the bonnet. Earth to the alternator is through the body mounting to the engine.

Obviously the first things to check are the fuse in the excitation circuit and the fuselink in the charging circuit. After that you'll have to check the earthing connection between the engine and the body of the vehicle. Then you're going to have to get out and get under to check the connections on the alternator are properly fitted.
The voltage across the battery when it's being properly charged by the alternator should be around 14 to 14.5 volts with the engine running just above tick-over.

knew the experts would be along soon,

don't mean that sarcastically either

gstuart said:

knew the experts would be along soon,

don't mean that sarcastically either

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I see no experts!
I'm no expert either, just reading the wiring diagrams.

brian47 said:

I see no experts!
I'm no expert either, just reading the wiring diagrams.

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think u become an expert when working on a landy , seeing ur always under the bonnet of one, lol

Measure for voltage on that maxi fusible link FL1 both sides, if one side is around 14V and the other 12 it's shot then the charge doesnt reach the battery

Thanks folks sorry for the late reply I've tested everything to the end of my knowledge lol the old alt went in as exchange and he showed me inside the cover at the back the brushes were none existent and the copper ring I think it was or whatever it was .. was down to the plastic... that's why I was pretty sure another alt would do it but it's still running 12 n half volts...... any good landy garages in West Yorkshire? Ive give in .... contestant defeated :-(

What is the voltage at the alternator terminals with the engine running? Take care with all the moving parts. I should read 14v+. If it isn't the alternator is not putting out.
Check continuity by bridging between the alternator - starter motor - battery. Make sure the battery is disconnected(no power in the circuit) or you'll blow your multi meter up.

gstuart said:

only thing i can think of , is maybe a loose wire in the connector plug that goes onto the alternator

are u able to check continuity from one end of the loom to the other

assume there's no warning lights

are all the fuses ok, does it share the same fuse as ur rear bulbs

is the recon alternator 100%

know that doesn't help u much

someone with far more experiance should be along soon to help

hope u get it sorted out[/QUOTE

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Sestina said:

What is the voltage at the alternator terminals with the engine running? Take care with all the moving parts. I should read 14v+. If it isn't the alternator is not putting out.
Check continuity by bridging between the alternator - starter motor - battery. Make sure the battery is disconnected(no power in the circuit) or you'll blow your multi meter up.

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sorry it's late been a busy body lol... testing this testing that ..... I've tested straight from the nut that fastens the power cable to the alternator and bridged to the casing still showing 12.4 when running..... also took the alt back off and tested the 3 pin plug that clicks into the back this shows just under 12 volts from both the 2 metal contacts..... I have rung the Bloke up who I bought the recon alt off and he's gunna bench test it for me tmoz.... I'm hoping that it's duff coz if not I have no idea what's up... I'm a broken man lol..... it would be a damn shame to see it in a pile of ashes

Alternator is fubar.

thanks for the reply bud

To the other thread which I posted which has now been closed for reply...... I was unaware that I should have posted it on this original post to avoid confusion/repetition..... it was a completely different question but still regarding the alternator so maybe I should have included it on this post so apologies..... I'm just absolutely peeeed off with this chuffing discovery at min and towing for me and wife getting to work and kids etc....... point taken on board

Just had a reply from alt specialist or not so specialist.... fault with regulator intermittently trying to charge .... was also taking the battery light off his bench worktop setup too then packed in completely whilst he was testing it lol...... new regulator fitted and retested at correct output so hopefully fingers crossed...... lesson learnt .. don't buy recon push boat out extra £100 and buy new thanks for all your input.

Eagle13 said:

Just had a reply from alt specialist or not so specialist.... fault with regulator intermittently trying to charge .... was also taking the battery light off his bench worktop setup too then packed in completely whilst he was testing it lol...... new regulator fitted and retested at correct output so hopefully fingers crossed...... lesson learnt .. don't buy recon push boat out extra £100 and buy new thanks for all your input.

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glad u got to the final answer and that once fitted will resolve ur issues

gstuart said:

glad u got to the final answer and that once fitted will resolve ur issues

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Thanks mate...... hopefully... it's done my nut in that much I have lost any self belief lol... on a positive note at least I can strip alternator off and back on in under 2 hours seen as I've done it 3 times hahaha.... unlike the 3hrs plus it took me to get it off and another 3 hours to put back on 1st time