Member Since: 06 Sep 2012
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 45
Alternator Not Charging the Battery
Ok. As I have mentioned before, I spend a lot of time having fun in ex-quarries; mainly sand or gravel ones. Brakes wear much quicker, Hand-brake wears much quicker (even when not used).
I recently had a fault one morning whereby the alternator was not charging the battery. My first thought was that the belt had snapped, but a quick inspection and it was still spinning fine. So what I did was set about getting the alternator out (I also starting googling new ones as I thought it had had it...). I used the manuals from here to do that and started to have a look inside.
Not being a mechanic, electrician or anything to do with cars what so ever (I own an IP Telephony company); I thought it would be a great idea to start randomly undoing things and trying to find out why it wasn't working.
Its at this point I wish I'd started to take pictures.
On top of the alternator (the opposite side to the pulley) is a little greyish/brownish plastic cap. Inside there are 2 spring loaded metal plates. I noticed that one of them (the lower one) was not springing all the way back out. So after 20 minutes of cleaning it, I got it springing properly.
Fitted everything back together and she fired into life!
As I said, I'm no mechanic or in no way a 4x4 specialist but I do like fiddling with things....
Just sharing my experience.....2011 - 09 TDV6 HSE (Written off Nov 2012 - The water didn't look that deep.....)
2009 - 09 VW Scirocco (100,000 miles in 2 years - Engine Blew up. Turbo and Super not meant for a 1400)
2007 - 53 Audi A3 (Went through 6 starter motors in 2 months)
I work for a well known big blue IT organisation , but having had a D3 & now a D4 there is always something mechanical to play with
Makes a welcome change from the day job Cheers Ian
___________________________________________
MY13 FL2 HSE lux - just gone
MY10 D4 XS
MY07 D3 SE
Massey Ferguson 400 FIS AGTV - Arctic Cat by any other name...
Citroen C3 Picasso for SWMBO so we can remember what fuel economy is!!
Member of the Narpy torch club
11th Oct 2012 1:27 pm
crwoody
Member Since: 09 Mar 2009
Location: Littleborough
Posts: 2109
Fiddle till it's fettled
Sounds like the carbon brushes had got bunged up and seized in their slides, not uncommon in a muddy environment. I had that a few times with my old Td5 Defender after muddy outings.
Always nice when it's a simple and cheap (free!!) fix Clive
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
