Charging problem

bought brand new battery and alternator (called generator in manual) on my
1996 Land Rover, Discovery I- v8 4.0L

I had the battery checked because one day while driving my battery light
turned on, then the rpm gauge showed 0 while the engine was still running...
later to find out that my alternator went out... .. because of the strain
that alternator can put on the battery if it goes out.

so.. now 1 week after battery and alternator install.. . and my battery light
turns on again.. this continues for a couple days.. then, battery light comes
on-now the rpm gauge goes out again..
and seems to be running fine on 2 20min rides.. seems fine.. but im sure the
whole thing is not over yet.. scared to blow altenator again.. any
suggestions??? short??? where should i start??? there is a little fuse box to
the left (facing engine from front) that all the fuses look fine.. please
help my rover!!


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"Stjohn2002 via CarKB.com" <u15123@uwe> wrote in message
news:5653580370312@uwe...
> bought brand new battery and alternator (called generator in manual) on my
> 1996 Land Rover, Discovery I- v8 4.0L
>
> I had the battery checked because one day while driving my battery light
> turned on, then the rpm gauge showed 0 while the engine was still
running...
> later to find out that my alternator went out... .. because of the strain
> that alternator can put on the battery if it goes out.
>
> so.. now 1 week after battery and alternator install.. . and my battery
light
> turns on again.. this continues for a couple days.. then, battery light
comes
> on-now the rpm gauge goes out again..
> and seems to be running fine on 2 20min rides.. seems fine.. but im sure
the
> whole thing is not over yet.. scared to blow altenator again.. any
> suggestions??? short??? where should i start??? there is a little fuse box
to
> the left (facing engine from front) that all the fuses look fine.. please
> help my rover!!
>

I think you should be looking at the battery connections, especially the
supply wires to lights and ignition, check in the harness near the battery.
When you first switch on before starting, the charge light earths through
the alternator and is fed from the ignition switch so the lamp lights. After
starting and the alternator starts to output the lamp goes out because each
side of the bulb then has a live feed and nowhere to earth. If you have a
difference in voltage on the ignition switch side or the alternator output
then the lamp will light again by earthing through the lower voltage.
It seems like when the lights are on the battery voltage is dropping
gradually until there is a marked difference, enough to stop the rev counter
working and light the charge lamp. I think the fault is most likely on the
battery to ignition/lights supply. You need to measure the voltages, engine
running and lights on, at the battery, alternator output and at the switches
end of the supply when the fault occurs.
Might get an idea from that, HTH Martin

Stjohn2002 wrote:
> bought brand new battery and alternator (called generator in manual) on my
I my have a solution to this one, Check the fan belt has been fitted round
the pullies properly. It is a long belt. This was the problem with mine which
had the same problem. The garage that fitted a new water pump got it wrong. I
drove the car for months with no problem . Winter comes and the lights are
used an the charging problem started.

>1996 Land Rover, Discovery I- v8 4.0L
>
>I had the battery checked because one day while driving my battery light
>turned on, then the rpm gauge showed 0 while the engine was still running...
>later to find out that my alternator went out... .. because of the strain
>that alternator can put on the battery if it goes out.
>
>so.. now 1 week after battery and alternator install.. . and my battery light
>turns on again.. this continues for a couple days.. then, battery light comes
>on-now the rpm gauge goes out again..
>and seems to be running fine on 2 20min rides.. seems fine.. but im sure the
>whole thing is not over yet.. scared to blow altenator again.. any
>suggestions??? short??? where should i start??? there is a little fuse box to
>the left (facing engine from front) that all the fuses look fine.. please
>help my rover!!


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