series 3 diesel - i left the ignition on!

1977 S3 109" 2286cc diesel.

Arrived home, pulled the stop lever to cut the motor, but then forgot to switch off with the key.

Came back to it a couple of hours later - the green and red lights were on, as is normal when you switch the ignition on, and when i turned the key to restart, the orange heater plug light came on as usual and the engine started.

When I stopped the engine and switched off straight away, the red charge light was still illuminated brightly and also possibly the green one, but less bright.

On a petrol engined car, ignition left switched on for too long = burned out ignition coil, but what could it be on a diesel Land Rover?

It starts, the glow plugs heat up ok, but am still stuck with these lights on when the ignition is off.... Have disconnected the battery whilst vehicle is not in use.

Advice please. It's much appreciated. Thanks in advance

I can't think of anything off the top of my head what might cause enough current to flow and damage it but it might be worth checking the back of the ignition switch.

If you've got a multimeter handy then I'd recommend disconnecting the back of the starter switch and buzzing each contact with all combinations, there shouldn't be a connection unless I'm mistaken. If there is then something's wrong with the switch. If not then it's somewhere else in the vehicle but it'd be worth eliminating the switch first since it's relatively easy to do.

diode gone in the alternator

Thanks for the answers so far. As the problem happened as a result of me leaving current flowing through a circuit, as opposed to a contact problem which occurred whilst driving, I am going to check the diode in the alternator or one of its wires, wherever it's hiding.

EASYto eliminate the alternator,leave ing on ,pull plug on back of alternator if lights go out =alternator,if not probly ing switch simples dave

the diodes are easy enough to check if you have a soldering iron.

Think I may have found the problem.

Current flowing for too long...wire heated up, melted insulation, short circuit. Approximately where the alternator wires pass by the bottom of the vertical oil filler pipe.

Hope it didn't grill anything in the alternator. Am not exactly sure what the diodes look like. It's a Lucas. Will get number if that helps, but will repair circuit first.

Thanks again for your answers

I once left my ignition on my series 3 derv for nearly 2 days, did'nt do a thing and started first time