P38A Electrickery problem

Hi all.
Car parked up 24 hrs, started up at first attempt then, only a mile down road, Traction warning beeped, dash lights started dimming, instrument needles went to zero. Pulled up, switched off and of course, it refused to start again just clicked. Battery read 10.4v. Jump started car, meter on battery posts read 10.9v - with engine running - so surmising alternator not charging. Drove home, removed battery to charge overnight, checked voltage with meter which surprised me as it read 12.2v straight off the car! Now on trickle charge overnight, which won't do any harm at all. Battery is Hankook 1000CCA, about 4/5yrs old with the indicator showing green still. Your advice/pointers will be gratefully received. No similar issues prior to this incident. (4.6 Thor)
Many thanks,
Mike.

Test the volts with the engine running lights and heater on at 2000 rpm

Cheers Pete. It'll be tomorrow before I get back to try that. I only tested voltage at idle earlier. Ironically, I tested voltage at tickover last weekend and I think it read 14.3v from memory.

10.9 volts engine running is no amps from the alternator, possibly just brushes or a bad connection. You should see 14.7 volts unless the battery is totally flat. The brushes have worn out on both mine at around 130K miles. New regulator/brush assembly less than £15 for the diesel alternator.
Second thoughts, as the battery went from having the power to start the car to dead flat very quickly, it could be the diode pack that has failed.

Thanks for your input Keith. I wondered about diodes. Where are they located and what are their values (if that's the correct terminology)? My P38 is a 4.6 Thor.
Kind regards,
Mike.

Jon Dor said:

Thanks for your input Keith. I wondered about diodes. Where are they located and what are their values (if that's the correct terminology)? My P38 is a 4.6 Thor.
Kind regards,
Mike.

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The diode pack is inside the alternator, with an ohm meter each diode should exhibit a relatively high resistance with the probes one way round and if you reverse the probes a low resistance. You really need to remove the diode pack to properly test, normally there are 7 diodes.

Thanks Keith. That'd be out of my comfort zone, but I'll take it to a rewind place opposite to boatyard tomorrow.

Jon Dor said:

Thanks Keith. That'd be out of my comfort zone, but I'll take it to a rewind place opposite to boatyard tomorrow.

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Boat yard in Yorkshire Jon? Must be a canal boat yard, I'm jealous. Not hard to remove the diode pack and test but if you are not comfortable doing it best leave it to an expert. Bonne chance.

Jondor is moored up on the River Hull at the Old Beverley Shipyard, once the most productive shipyard in the world Keith! Up to the last 1960's, there were up to 700 or so workers there! Have a "gander" onYoutube... Cheers, Keith.

+1 on the jealous my ideal retirement relaxing on a narrow boat

Jondor is 116' long, 17'6" beam, 10' moulded depth Pete, so no narrow boat

All foreign to me mate but sounds good would be a serious project any pics

Jon Dor said:

Jondor is moored up on the River Hull at the Old Beverley Shipyard, once the most productive shipyard in the world Keith! Up to the last 1960's, there were up to 700 or so workers there! Have a "gander" onYoutube... Cheers, Keith.

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Before I moved to France, I seriously looked at buying and living on a narrow boat.

Jon Dor said:

Jondor is 116' long, 17'6" beam, 10' moulded depth Pete, so no narrow boat

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Now i'm getting jealous as someone who grew up on boats and became a RM boat driver. She is a size.

Datatek said:

Before I moved to France, I seriously looked at buying and living on a narrow boat.

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Tried to get the long haired colonel to consider a liveaboard boat, Med, Caribbean, all to no avail. have you ever tried to try and slam a revolving door??? Same as arguing or trying to convince a woman of a good idea!! sure i am in for some digs over this post

Gunnerhavesome said:

Tried to get the long haired colonel to consider a liveaboard boat, Med, Caribbean, all to no avail. have you ever tried to try and slam a revolving door??? Same as arguing or trying to convince a woman of a good idea!! sure i am in for some digs over this post

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I doubt it. Women are weird about boats. Mine is more comfortable than a house, with mains power throughout on demand, a full size flush toilet and bath,and central heating, and is one of the fastest boats on the system.
But my wife will only occasionally cruise on it, and will never live on it.
Whatever you do, most women will find another excuse, too small, too big, not enough windows, too many windows, not enough hard floors, not enough carpet, etc.

Mines the same about living on a narrow boat right against it

Turboman said:

I doubt it. Women are weird about boats. Mine is more comfortable than a house, with mains power throughout on demand, a full size flush toilet and bath,and central heating, and is one of the fastest boats on the system.
But my wife will only occasionally cruise on it, and will never live on it.
Whatever you do, most women will find another excuse, too small, too big, not enough windows, too many windows, not enough hard floors, not enough carpet, etc.

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Your gonna get a smack for that.

J

pete12345 said:

Mines the same about living on a narrow boat right against it

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I wouldn't bother getting a widebeam, she won't like it any more. They either do, or they don't.

marjon said:

Your gonna get a smack for that.

J

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Nope. I don't mind singlehanding, and she is OK with my boating so long as I make regular appearances to put up shelves, sweep chimneys, and take stuff to the tip.
She doesn't look in the Range Rover section anyway, as she isn't much interested in them.

Get the battery properly tested.
The little green thing is all very well but only use it as a rough guide.
FWIW I've just replaced the battery on my Sprinter. Little green thing showing but only enough oomph to turn it over for a few seconds & slowly at that.
Overnight charge & all seemed fine but a couple of spins & that was it.
New battery (from Tayna, ordered about 6.30pm & delivered next day before 2.00pm) and all is well again - made me realise that the old one had been on its way out for some time.

ETA I stand to be corrected, but I believe the green thing (basically it's a battery hydrometer) is in just one cell of the battery.
There is no internal fluid connection between any of the cells so the other cell(s) could be dead.