Member Since: 13 Jan 2009
Location: Somewhere in the middle
Posts: 1718
Alternator gave up. Previously Car Died.
Problem after problem these weeks.
Within 2 weeks; new EGR's, compressor fault, new battery, 6 new injectors last thursday and now nothing.
Came home tonight and passing the car I already thought smelling burned rubber. Within 10 minutes the family was ready to go again to a restaurant and approaching the car I already notice a dimmed light inside the car.
Getting into the car I could just see the red airbag signal fading away and the car was dead. No power what so ever.
Took the spare battery and switched the poles. After 2 mintues the negative pole wire began to smoke and overheat.
NOW WHAT?? Any thoughts?CLUB ILLEGAL CAR WASHERS
Last edited by Renton on 18th Jan 2010 6:22 pm. Edited 1 time in total
17th Jan 2010 9:01 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72790
Time for a D4, U and JF Lux!!!
17th Jan 2010 9:09 pm
Tawny Owl
Member Since: 22 Oct 2008
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1645
Renton ,
Possible Alternator shorting/back feeding causing battery drain?
17th Jan 2010 9:22 pm
Renton
Member Since: 13 Jan 2009
Location: Somewhere in the middle
Posts: 1718
Reading other alternator failure symptoms you might be right Tawnyowl.
I don't believe much in coincedence. What could be the cause of a failing alternator?
The dealer worked a lot on the engine last couple of days. Could they have done something to trigger this?
What is the most straight forward test to see if it's really the alternator that is failing?
Is my new battery gone as well?CLUB ILLEGAL CAR WASHERS
17th Jan 2010 9:51 pm
Tawny Owl
Member Since: 22 Oct 2008
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1645
Why was the battery changed ? Were you having battery related problems before ?
First thing to check is the alternator wiring in case it's trapped / shorting out.
Second thing is to get the engine running and check the output of the alternator with a multimeter and amp clamp .
Third check is carry out an amp drain test to see what the drain is on the battery. Should be up to 0.2amp drain I believe once in sleep mode , if you have a high amp drain , try disconnecting the alternator to see if it disappears
17th Jan 2010 10:18 pm
Renton
Member Since: 13 Jan 2009
Location: Somewhere in the middle
Posts: 1718
Changed the battery because I had all these different small on and oof electronical issues. Latest one was the car not starting. And it did start when I charged the battery a bit or jump started it. Battery was getting older so I swapped it.
Thanks for clarifying Tawny!CLUB ILLEGAL CAR WASHERS
17th Jan 2010 11:55 pm
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi Renton,
I don't understand why you "switched the poles". It's possible that I don't understand what you said, but it sounds like you set up a complete short. If that is the case, I'm not surprised that one of the cables "freaked out".The Bearded Dragon
18th Jan 2010 6:37 am
Renton
Member Since: 13 Jan 2009
Location: Somewhere in the middle
Posts: 1718
Bushwanderer wrote:
Hi Renton,
I don't understand why you "switched the poles". It's possible that I don't understand what you said, but it sounds like you set up a complete short. If that is the case, I'm not surprised that one of the cables "freaked out".
Should have said "switched the battery cables from the car battery to the spare".CLUB ILLEGAL CAR WASHERS
18th Jan 2010 8:23 am
Renton
Member Since: 13 Jan 2009
Location: Somewhere in the middle
Posts: 1718
Took out the altornator today and as it turned out it has died.
Possitive thing is that it is already repaired.
Gonna pick it up tomorrow.
Down side is that the repairguy thinks that its caused by something else. Gonna have the batteries checked to see if they short and caused the alternator to give up.
Anybody else an idea what could short so heavy for the alternator to die?CLUB ILLEGAL CAR WASHERS
18th Jan 2010 6:26 pm
MikeS2005
Member Since: 13 Sep 2008
Location: Midlothian
Posts: 920
Alternator
Hi
I replaced my battery 2 months ago and came out one day to start the vehicle everything was okay drove 2 miles down the road turned the D3 off then came back restarted it and on pops the battery light.
I am in the motor trade so took it back to my workshop and tested the alternator luckily the car still started but was only giving a charge output of 12.2 volts, it should in fact give an output of between 14.2 to 15.2.
To test it you turn everything electrical on and see what the reading is with the car running then switch all electricals off and retest and see what the readings are.
I also got a second opinion just in case I was missing something and when I got the alternator tested we discovered that there was some sort of fault within the windings of the alternator .
I had to end up fitting a brand new one as there was no recon units in the UK and LR had a huge back order
so I had to bite the bullet and dig deep into my pocket
I hope this helps
cheers
18th Jan 2010 7:46 pm
Tawny Owl
Member Since: 22 Oct 2008
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1645
As mike says , field windings seem to short within , can't imagine what else would cause the alternator to short out apart from the live cables going to the unit which I previously said could of got trapped or rubbed through.
Glad you have made progress with it being diagnosed / repaired so quickly
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Should have said "switched the battery cables from the car battery to the spare".
