Hi
I've got a 1985 90 V8 with a Lucas A133-65 alternator into a Lucas 4BD blocking diode for a split charge. This was the standard factory fit setup.
Now I noticed today that the dashboard voltmeter was down. Put a multimeter across the battery and with the engine running at about 2500rpm and no electical loads I got 13.2v at the battery with the headlights on this dropped to 12.90v. So thought sounds like the regulator.
Went to an auto electrical workshop local to me who took a look, thought the same but didn't have one in stock so suggested another place. They took a look and one of their guys said "regulators on these don't normally fail let's test it". Apparently tested fine. Put it back on the engine and noticed once I'd put it all back together and was putting the negative battery terminal back on the battery that ignition warning light came on straight away and that's without keys in the ignition! Now on my alternator there are three connections. One is a large brown wire with an eyelet connection and the other end goes to one terminal on the 4BD. The other two are very thin brown wires one on an eyelet terminal and the other on a lucar. If I remove the lucar terminal the ignition warning light goes out. Fire it up and all I ever see is about 12.8v at the battery now no increase. Put a meter on the large terminal and it's 0v at the alternator - I know should have done that test before I took it to the auto leccy but hey ho.
OK so I'm going to "have a word" with the guys who tested it, but I doubt they'll admit they did anything wrong so before I spend more money on bits and pieces has anyone come across these symptoms on the warning light?
Is it likely to be fixable with a regulator and any other tests worth doing? The local independant Land Rover dealer reckon an exchange alternator is around £125
Cheers for any help
Mart
I've got a 1985 90 V8 with a Lucas A133-65 alternator into a Lucas 4BD blocking diode for a split charge. This was the standard factory fit setup.
Now I noticed today that the dashboard voltmeter was down. Put a multimeter across the battery and with the engine running at about 2500rpm and no electical loads I got 13.2v at the battery with the headlights on this dropped to 12.90v. So thought sounds like the regulator.
Went to an auto electrical workshop local to me who took a look, thought the same but didn't have one in stock so suggested another place. They took a look and one of their guys said "regulators on these don't normally fail let's test it". Apparently tested fine. Put it back on the engine and noticed once I'd put it all back together and was putting the negative battery terminal back on the battery that ignition warning light came on straight away and that's without keys in the ignition! Now on my alternator there are three connections. One is a large brown wire with an eyelet connection and the other end goes to one terminal on the 4BD. The other two are very thin brown wires one on an eyelet terminal and the other on a lucar. If I remove the lucar terminal the ignition warning light goes out. Fire it up and all I ever see is about 12.8v at the battery now no increase. Put a meter on the large terminal and it's 0v at the alternator - I know should have done that test before I took it to the auto leccy but hey ho.
OK so I'm going to "have a word" with the guys who tested it, but I doubt they'll admit they did anything wrong so before I spend more money on bits and pieces has anyone come across these symptoms on the warning light?
Is it likely to be fixable with a regulator and any other tests worth doing? The local independant Land Rover dealer reckon an exchange alternator is around £125
Cheers for any help
Mart
