Poorly Range Rover Classic - battery or alternator maybe?

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MikeV8SE

MikeV8SE

New Member
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Hi there,

Had my RRC for less than a week now, and had a few issues when I picked it up including a tempramental speedo and dead fuel gauge - more details here: http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/newbie-rrc-owner-saying-hi-few-questions-123099.html

Anyway, tonight was the first time I had driven it in really cold weather (well, I mean below 2'C!) and when I started it the red battery light stayed on for the entire journey, and the rev counter decided to stop working for the first time. So I kept the minimum on - heater and headlights - and carried on my journey. Stopped for fuel, started OK. Stopped longer to see some mates, started fine again, drove home and on the way the back the ABS light started flickering at random, both when braking (lightly) and then whilst just driving along. The the headlights got gradually dimmer, the ABS light stayed on permanently and the speedo joined the rev counter and fuel gauge in retiring. Just about got home without the car dying, but by that time the only gauge which was working was the engine temp and the headlights were a lot dimmer than usual.

So, I'm guessing this is all electrical related, but is it likely to be battery or alternator, or something else completely? I really like the car and I know they have plenty of character, but would still like to get it sorted! Any thoughts?
 
would replace the battery anyway and get the alternator tested by a auto electric guy... If you need a alternator give me a buzz;)

change the belt aswell mate.

Doing loads of batterys/alts/starters at work as the winter sets in.
 
Possibly so - although was hoping to keep spending on this car to a minimum, it is a winter 'hack' to all intents and purposes!! You have PM... ;-)
 
It's obviously not charging so you have to find out why. Usually only two things. Slack or non existent alternator belt or the alternator itself. If the belt's ok and not slipping, change the alternator. If you really want to do it as cheap as possible, you could look for one the same from a scrappy from a vehicle of a similar age. I don't think they're that expensive though.
 
Check the body earth leads too. Remove and rub with a bit of emery. Make sure there is a good connection. I had similar earlier this year with a '71 classic (after trying two batteries and three alternators). The connections were tight but when I unbolted them the mating faces were gunged with rust and muck. All shiny now and alternator putting out over 14V. It was only reading 12.2 previously with no load.
 
Get your alternator overhauled, it is probably cheaper than getting another one (even second hand). Go to a good local auto electrician or perhaps a battery specialist (most do alternator repairs/rebuilds etc). Ask for the alternator to be tested first then what you want is brushes, slip rings & voltage regulator and you might consider new bearings.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I've dropped it off at a local garage this morning to have the cooling system flushed (needs an airline and water through it, it's filthy!) and a little spot of welding to the boot floor, so have asked them to check the battery and alternator for me, but ring me before they do anything. Seems strange as there was no issue driving home for 3 hours or round the lanes the past few days, but perhaps the battery is strong and alternator just hasn't charged it?

Out of interest, where are the earth points? That seems by far the quickest/cheapest fix before messing about with batteries and alternators!!
 
If the battery held up for that long with the headlights on, it can't be bad. Just don't leave it flat as it will quickly deteriorate. Stick a charger on it while you sort the alternator.
 
Thanks Datatek!

I have an Optimate conditioner for my motorbike which I left on it overnight, and that showed a solid orange light this morning, which basically means its alive but poorly. Having said that, I drove it to work in the rain to drop it off at the garage (wipers on, lights off though) and it last fine, so I think the battery is OK. Hopefully just a dodgy earth, maybe alternator belt, we shall see!
 
Well, a snapped alternator belt explains the electrical woes from last night, so that was a simple £6 fix! Also fitted new upper tailgate struts so that stays up now, and the coolant flush has gone well - looked absolutely disgusting, so was definitely needed - flushed out with an airline/water and then a chemical flush too to make sure it is tip-top! Found a few more weak spots in the boot floor so they're all being welded up as well.

One potential problem - I put £20 of unleaded in last night, and have driven 20-25 miles since. The garage left the car idling for 15 minutes whilst they were flushing the coolant through, and it ran out of petrol!! So that equates to 6mpg - that cant be right!! It passed an MOT about a fortnight ago, so the emissions *should* be fine, so other than it being a leak, any other ideas??

Have also ordered a new set of ISO leads so I'll have radio too, and I think that's it for a while!!
 
they can run as low as that if rich and mine passed an MOT like that too when I first got it (sorted it a year ago plugs are clean now)

so whip out yer plugs and see if they look like lumps of coal, that will tell you if its rich.

Also didnt you notice you had no alternator belt???
 
:doh::doh::doh:
No bloody belt! Well full marks for owning up to that one anyway!
If the engine doesn't get warm, the fuel consumption will suffer horrendously. Where's your temperature gauge reading when you're driving around? Mine with a new thermostat is just to the left of middle. Prior to the new one, it was just off the blue (i.e it was stuck open). Fuel consumption was around 11mpg I think. You will use quite a bit when you leave it idling though, especially if it's not warming up.
 
I'll be honest, it was pitch black last night, I don't have an outside light, so via the power of 'phone torch' I managed to connect a battery charger and that was it - it was booked into the garage this morning anyway for the coolant flush and welding, so thought I;d let them investigate!! Lazy, yes, but it was -3'C last night and pitch black!

Will check the spark plugs at the weekend - before the coolant change it sat dead in the middle, with fresh coolant it is now slightly left of centre, but it does warm up OK (although takes a while!). I guess short journeys will always be the killer on a big V8 such as these!
 
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