Electrical Failure

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tony2

tony2

Active Member
Posts
351
Location
Near Taunton Somerset
Hi all,
Got my 4.6 V8 P38 out of storage at the beginning of November and returned it to the road for Winter.
All good until yesterday, driving along when suddenly the radio went off, the speedo and rev counter stopped working, dash came up Gearbox Fault, Traction Fault etc but, fortunately the engine kept running. It was as if the battery was completely flat and the alternator was not charging. My immediate thought was that the battery had gone dead short across a cell so, I turned round and headed for home. After a few miles all electrics returned to normal, everything was working again. Once home I checked the battery cables, cleared all fault codes and it has been fine since. Starts ok, battery voltage good. I have never known a battery fail like that and then recover so, maybe it is something else. (BeCM ?)
Has anyone had the same problem or can point me in the right direction with this.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone.
 
tony2 said:
Hi all,
Got my 4.6 V8 P38 out of storage at the beginning of November and returned it to the road for Winter.
All good until yesterday, driving along when suddenly the radio went off, the speedo and rev counter stopped working, dash came up Gearbox Fault, Traction Fault etc but, fortunately the engine kept running. It was as if the battery was completely flat and the alternator was not charging. My immediate thought was that the battery had gone dead short across a cell so, I turned round and headed for home. After a few miles all electrics returned to normal, everything was working again. Once home I checked the battery cables, cleared all fault codes and it has been fine since. Starts ok, battery voltage good. I have never known a battery fail like that and then recover so, maybe it is something else. (BeCM ?)
Has anyone had the same problem or can point me in the right direction with this.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone.
Click to expand...

hi...ive had this happen to me about 10y ago on a vaux senator.i was on hols in Cornwall, caravan parked up and headed out all died on me, returned to caravan and all ran well on way back.. called rac as wasnt risking it again ,,the fault was the earth strap to the chassis ..it looked good bolted on okay but when he put the meter on both ends and bent it it showed faulty ..hit a bump prob and no earth ,,fitted new earth strap never had prob again..
 
Have a bit the same problem currently
Alternator charged at one moment and bit later not anymore wich results in a low voltage when lights on and faults .
Put in new battery problem remains ,
Now placing new alternator and checking /cleaning postitive and earth battery cables
 
freelanderoig said:
hi...ive had this happen to me about 10y ago on a vaux senator.i was on hols in Cornwall, caravan parked up and headed out all died on me, returned to caravan and all ran well on way back.. called rac as wasnt risking it again ,,the fault was the earth strap to the chassis ..it looked good bolted on okay but when he put the meter on both ends and bent it it showed faulty ..hit a bump prob and no earth ,,fitted new earth strap never had prob again..
Click to expand...

I'd agree - check your battery connections and earth points (disconnect + clean) - battery earth off first
 
I had the same many years ago on my first P38. I eventually found the issue was one of the power feeds to the BECM had been pinched between fuse box and body, causing it to chafe through the insulation over time and eventually short out. One of the many things the PO had done and I was left to sort it out!

The unlucky thing for me was that by the time I found it, it had fried the BECM :(

In your case though, I would be checking the earth straps and +ve wires first Also fuse box - I've seen pictures a few times now where the +ve stud in the fuse box has broken loose and then arced and caused all sorts of weird electrical problems too.

Good luck with it!
Marty
 
Ie just had the same thing happen to me all the lights went dim gbox fault on running rough . Been out this morning checked all conections traced fault to alternator .wheres best to get one all help will b gratefully received
 
They must b all programmed to go at same time mines just gone as well I fink have u made sure battery is fully charged
 
grumpy52 said:
Euro 185 thats the 150 amp one coming today
Click to expand...
Then going back and another one in the post. My son in law has stopped using them, three times they sent out the wrong part for a car, when they did find the right one they said it was too late to put it on the delivery van. He ended up with one ramp out of use all day.:mad: Make sure you have the old one off to compare with the replacement !
 
Thanks for the replies.
Sorry for the delay but, been away for Christmas.
While the Rangie has been standing the battery has gone flat so not sure if it's the battery or the Alternator draining it.
Will try and look at it tomorrow and let you know what I find.
Happy New Year to you all :)
 
well checked out the battery light earthed it out that was working so the alternator was goosed got one from a local supplier as euro crap didnt come up with one no suprise there £135 incl vat so not bad 18 months guarantee aswell fitted it everything is well charging as should so off for mot at 9.30 so fingers crossed
 
Hi all,
Not much to update you on....been ill since the New Year and unable to do anything to the Rangie, apart from charge up the battery and then left it for 2 days.
Yep, totally flat again. Definately suspecting the Alternator. Once well enough I will continue the investigations.
 
yep domino it did pass 1 advise rear discs flew thru just having this misfire . tony 2 my battery went overnite just dropped like a stone put a new one on no probs only have probs at work if there is a test going on on the wind turbine it can b flat but only happened twice
 
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