Ignition Light - On!

The ignition light on my 200tdi 110 stays on whenever the engine is
running. The landy runs ok and the battery appears to be ok, no loss
of charge. I have noticed that voltage drops (via dashboard guage)
when I have lights etc on, but only slightly.

The problem started after BOTH the bolts that hold the alternator onto
the engine block fell out (or were never there as I've only had it 9
months). The loss of the bolts had caused the adjuster arm (made up
name I think, but it's the length of metal that you'd under one bolt on
to increase / decrease then belt tension) snapped as a result of
vibrations from the missing bolts.

I had this welded back together and put new bolts etc in to get things
working again. The belt tension appears ok.

So what I basically want to know is this likely to be a problem with
the alternator, or could it be that I've not got enough tension on the
belt? I have wondered if where I re-bolted the adjuster arm to the
bottom of the engine block I hadn't got a sufficient angle to get
enough tension on the belt.

If it helps with dianosis the light appears to dim slightly at
tickover.

Help would be much appreciated !

Cheers,

Gavin.

On or around 17 Jul 2006 11:00:18 -0700, "Embo" <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>The ignition light on my 200tdi 110 stays on whenever the engine is
>running. The landy runs ok and the battery appears to be ok, no loss
>of charge. I have noticed that voltage drops (via dashboard guage)
>when I have lights etc on, but only slightly.
>
>The problem started after BOTH the bolts that hold the alternator onto
>the engine block fell out (or were never there as I've only had it 9
>months). The loss of the bolts had caused the adjuster arm (made up
>name I think, but it's the length of metal that you'd under one bolt on
>to increase / decrease then belt tension) snapped as a result of
>vibrations from the missing bolts.

check the voltage. I suspect that you've got dodgy electronics in the
alternator. Also check whether the alternator should have an earth strap,
some do.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"
George Orwell (1903 - 1950) Animal Farm

"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On or around 17 Jul 2006 11:00:18 -0700, "Embo" <[email protected]>
> enlightened us thusly:
>
>>The ignition light on my 200tdi 110 stays on whenever the engine is
>>running. The landy runs ok and the battery appears to be ok, no loss
>>of charge. I have noticed that voltage drops (via dashboard guage)
>>when I have lights etc on, but only slightly.
>>
>>The problem started after BOTH the bolts that hold the alternator onto
>>the engine block fell out (or were never there as I've only had it 9
>>months). The loss of the bolts had caused the adjuster arm (made up
>>name I think, but it's the length of metal that you'd under one bolt on
>>to increase / decrease then belt tension) snapped as a result of
>>vibrations from the missing bolts.
>
> check the voltage. I suspect that you've got dodgy electronics in the
> alternator. Also check whether the alternator should have an earth strap,
> some do.
> --
> Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
> "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"
> George Orwell (1903 - 1950) Animal Farm

I had this problem on mine (ignition light staying on), everything kept
going fine for a week then battery wouldn't hold charge.
When I did try and find the fault (I always try the ignore it it might go
away fix first) it was the big thick wire from the alternator had melted
where it touched the engine and was earthing. New wire soon fixed it!

Nigel

--
nigel@leginDOTorg
1979 Lightweight
Blitz 4x4
and a couple of SJs for spares

Embo wrote:
> The ignition light on my 200tdi 110 stays on whenever the engine is
> running. The landy runs ok and the battery appears to be ok, no
> loss of charge. I have noticed that voltage drops (via dashboard
> guage) when I have lights etc on, but only slightly.
>
> The problem started after BOTH the bolts that hold the alternator
> onto the engine block fell out (or were never there as I've only
> had it 9 months). The loss of the bolts had caused the adjuster
> arm (made up name I think, but it's the length of metal that you'd
> under one bolt on to increase / decrease then belt tension) snapped
> as a result of vibrations from the missing bolts.
>
> I had this welded back together and put new bolts etc in to get
> things working again. The belt tension appears ok.
>
> So what I basically want to know is this likely to be a problem with
> the alternator, or could it be that I've not got enough tension on
> the belt? I have wondered if where I re-bolted the adjuster arm to
> the bottom of the engine block I hadn't got a sufficient angle to
> get enough tension on the belt.
>
> If it helps with dianosis the light appears to dim slightly at
> tickover.
>
> Help would be much appreciated !
>
> Cheers,
>
> Gavin.

More than likely a voltage regulator problem. If not, could be a few things. Check the battery too. If
it's not holding charge it could give the same result!

Nige

Thanks for the advice. I'll check the wire to see if it's melted as
the battery is holding a charge really well.

If it wasn't for the light I wouldn't know anything was wrong.

Cheers,

Gavin.

On or around 17 Jul 2006 14:46:56 -0700, "Embo" <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>Thanks for the advice. I'll check the wire to see if it's melted as
>the battery is holding a charge really well.
>
>If it wasn't for the light I wouldn't know anything was wrong.

earthing of the small wire to the alternator will cause the light to come on
on too. Unless it's the small wire that feeds the rev counter, in which
case it'll make the rev counter not work.

light on dimly is sometimes a diode problem.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
If all be true that I do think, There are five reasons we should drink;
Good wine, a friend, or being dry, Or lest we should be by and by;
Or any other reason why. - Henry Aldrich (1647 - 1710)

"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On or around 17 Jul 2006 14:46:56 -0700, "Embo" <[email protected]>
> enlightened us thusly:
>
> >Thanks for the advice. I'll check the wire to see if it's melted as
> >the battery is holding a charge really well.
> >
> >If it wasn't for the light I wouldn't know anything was wrong.
>
> earthing of the small wire to the alternator will cause the light to come
on
> on too. Unless it's the small wire that feeds the rev counter, in which
> case it'll make the rev counter not work.
>
> light on dimly is sometimes a diode problem.
>
Also check *all* connections between alternator output and battery +ve and
earth leads as a dirty joint can cause a voltage difference across each end
of the warning lamp resulting in current flow across the bulb whilst running
and less on tickover because the alternator output is less. If the
alternator actually fell off there could be physical damage to the
alternator or reg/rectifier unit, take it off and get it tested, most places
don't charge for this but my money is on a dirty connection (could even be
ignition circuit).

HTH, Martin