Freelander 1 Weird problem

Hey guys, been a while since i've made a thread on here! Still running the same car i started with and had a small problem for a while but kinda forgot about it until yesterday. Got a feeling it could be the alternator but any ideas are welcome.

If i start the car the headlights dim a little, if i pull away from standing in first the revs drop, requires a bit of gas and the headlights dim a little. If i switch my LED light bar on with the engine running there is a slight flicker to the light, but switch the engine off and the light output is solid. If i have the radio playing via 3.5mm headphone jack from my phone it plays fine, however if i plug the phone into the cigarette lighter at the same time to charge there is a feedback whine through the speakers that increases with the revs.

So any pointers, bad alternator, battery earthing points, IACV not reacting quick enough?

Sounds like a duff diode in the alternator.

Nodge68 said:

Sounds like a duff diode in the alternator.

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cool, any difference between the years and aircon vs no air con for the alternators? Got a spare one from a 2001 model without aircon outside somewhere that hasn't been touched in a year but done 100k less miles.

All alternators are the same fitting. There are a couple of different output powers though. The heated front screen uses lots of juice, so had a larger alternator.

Nope, replacement one does not fit at all. should have checked before trying to fit i guess but it seems the top mounting bracket is in entirely the wrong place.

krisboats said:

Nope, replacement one does not fit at all. should have checked before trying to fit i guess but it seems the top mounting bracket is in entirely the wrong place.

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What engine is it?

Nodge68 said:

Sounds like a duff diode in the alternator.

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Worn brushes will do that as well.

In many case the brushes are part of the internal regulator.

spare car had no AC, that's my problem. Mine does, the mounting is different

Nodge68 said:

What engine is it?

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Mine is 1.8 with aircon, the donor was 1.8 without aircon. The two alternators are like a mirror image of each other so one of the mounting points is well out

krisboats said:

spare car had no AC, that's my problem. Mine does, the mounting is different


Mine is 1.8 with aircon, the donor was 1.8 without aircon. The two alternators are like a mirror image of each other so one of the mounting points is well out

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Ah yes. The 1.8 alternators are different. I was thinking you had a TD4, hence the heated front screen comment. The 1.8 can't have a HFS. Sorry if I sent you on a wild goose chase.
I'm pretty sure that you can use the electrical parts from the low mileage alternator to repair the faulty one though

Nodge68 said:

Ah yes. The 1.8 alternators are different. I was thinking you had a TD4, hence the heated front screen comment. The 1.8 can't have a HFS. Sorry if I sent you on a wild goose chase.
I'm pretty sure that you can use the electrical parts from the low mileage alternator to repair the faulty one though

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Can't have one? why does that make me really want to fit one now! hahaha

Thats worth a good shout. The bearing is toast in the lower mileage one. Sounds like stirring gravel in a cement mixer compared to my smooth spinning one, haha.

krisboats said:

Can't have one? why does that make me really want to fit one now! hahaha

Thats worth a good shout. The bearing is toast in the lower mileage one. Sounds like stirring gravel in a cement mixer compared to my smooth spinning one, haha.

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Fitting the HFS would give you a switch in one of the blank spaces in your new facelift console upgrade
I don't think the 1.8 alternator gave enough power for LR to fit the HFS. Of course anything can be retrofitted, if you are determined.

Nodge68 said:

Fitting the HFS would give you a switch in one of the blank spaces in your new facelift console upgrade
I don't think the 1.8 alternator gave enough power for LR to fit the HFS. Of course anything can be retrofitted, if you are determined.

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haha, it would be a novelty to have one. And mine has a little chip... perfect excuse really.

After buying 5 new tyres i don't think it'll be done anytime soon. But after my engine/clutch/gearbox/ird/VCU/rear diff swap i'll probably be looking for new ways to keep busy!