the latest issue is pretty straight foward i think, started fine in morning, batt light on dim on way to work, after work started fine no light on the way home, then near home radio went off on own,no lights showing on dash..i.e, headlights,dipped ,main on indication, indicator light flashed when indicators used. it gone me home into my drive, so i just left lights on had a quick peak just to see if on...yes, but dim, then it died completely. pointing me to one thing , alternator. just wondered if any one could advise me on the best way to test the alternator or if this problem points to anything else wrong. Thnks again all those who have given me advice in the last few days, i am currently refurbing my van at the moment so the second i get a few moments i will post some picks of the build so far and put something back into a fantastic and friendly forum...Thanks again....Gareth.Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
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gdaddy1980
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Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
Hi guys, some may notice i have been on a few times over the last couple of weeks with issues, i have just named the van a boy...sure its a girl now tho with monthly cycles... the latest issue is pretty straight foward i think, started fine in morning, batt light on dim on way to work, after work started fine no light on the way home, then near home radio went off on own,no lights showing on dash..i.e, headlights,dipped ,main on indication, indicator light flashed when indicators used. it gone me home into my drive, so i just left lights on had a quick peak just to see if on...yes, but dim, then it died completely. pointing me to one thing , alternator. just wondered if any one could advise me on the best way to test the alternator or if this problem points to anything else wrong. Thnks again all those who have given me advice in the last few days, i am currently refurbing my van at the moment so the second i get a few moments i will post some picks of the build so far and put something back into a fantastic and friendly forum...Thanks again....Gareth.
the latest issue is pretty straight foward i think, started fine in morning, batt light on dim on way to work, after work started fine no light on the way home, then near home radio went off on own,no lights showing on dash..i.e, headlights,dipped ,main on indication, indicator light flashed when indicators used. it gone me home into my drive, so i just left lights on had a quick peak just to see if on...yes, but dim, then it died completely. pointing me to one thing , alternator. just wondered if any one could advise me on the best way to test the alternator or if this problem points to anything else wrong. Thnks again all those who have given me advice in the last few days, i am currently refurbing my van at the moment so the second i get a few moments i will post some picks of the build so far and put something back into a fantastic and friendly forum...Thanks again....Gareth.
Re: Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
Sorry, im a bit confused. When you say it died completely what do you mean? The battery light came on full?
Ringo
Ringo
Now driving a big bad VW LT Florida.
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gdaddy1980
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Re: Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
No I mean the engine died and when turned over on the key nothing happened, so assumed battery is drained...but don't think battery light came on from what I can remember....ringo wrote:Sorry, im a bit confused. When you say it died completely what do you mean? The battery light came on full?
Ringo
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ewenmaclean
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Re: Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
Hello,
First off check all your earths are clean and good - if your chassis earth has come loose it could cause similar symptoms - also check the gearbox to chassis earth strap. Then I would get a multimeter and find out if there is a current drain with everything switched off - the only thing taking power should be the clock and radio battery memory - hardly anything at all. To test the alternator when running you need around 14v across the battery terminals.
To check you don't have a drain somewhere I would disconnect the battery and measure the resistance between the terminals - take out the fuse for the clock and radio and the resistance should be infinite - I would keep disconnecting stuff until it's infinite.
Once you're sure it is, then recharge the battery and check it's holding charge (should be around 12.9V fully charged I think) - then check the alternator voltage when running. If it's not 14V then the first thing to change is the brush pack - I have one I don't need you can have if you want which should fit your alternator - it's held on simply with 2 screws on the alternator.
Good luck sorting the problem out
Ewen
First off check all your earths are clean and good - if your chassis earth has come loose it could cause similar symptoms - also check the gearbox to chassis earth strap. Then I would get a multimeter and find out if there is a current drain with everything switched off - the only thing taking power should be the clock and radio battery memory - hardly anything at all. To test the alternator when running you need around 14v across the battery terminals.
To check you don't have a drain somewhere I would disconnect the battery and measure the resistance between the terminals - take out the fuse for the clock and radio and the resistance should be infinite - I would keep disconnecting stuff until it's infinite.
Once you're sure it is, then recharge the battery and check it's holding charge (should be around 12.9V fully charged I think) - then check the alternator voltage when running. If it's not 14V then the first thing to change is the brush pack - I have one I don't need you can have if you want which should fit your alternator - it's held on simply with 2 screws on the alternator.
Good luck sorting the problem out
Ewen
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gdaddy1980
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Re: Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
Hi ewen, thank very much for your suggestions, I think I have found the problem being the bushes.... When I removed them one fell out and one stayed in on the spring, I assume they should both stay in and be soldered in by the wire?? Don't know if they have a partn number on bit if you think yours would fit then I would be happy to buy your one from you...
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gdaddy1980
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Re: Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
That should read brushes....
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ewenmaclean
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Re: Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
Hello,
you can have mine for nothing - only problem is I'm afraid I won't be able to get to it until probably Wednesday if you can wait until then - sorry I forgot about that. Otherwise you can get one from here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-BOSCH-ALT ... 45f30698e9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
which should work
Ewen
you can have mine for nothing - only problem is I'm afraid I won't be able to get to it until probably Wednesday if you can wait until then - sorry I forgot about that. Otherwise you can get one from here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-BOSCH-ALT ... 45f30698e9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
which should work
Ewen
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gdaddy1980
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Re: Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
Thanks very much for your generosity ewen but I hope you don't think I am being rude, but I think I might go for the new one off eBay as I need my van asap as my wife is pregnant and she needs our car for school to save her walking to much...i hope that one works, should do does not list my Bosch part but it looks very much the same.. Trial and error maybe...thanks again for the offer tho...will keep you posted on progress
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ewenmaclean
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Re: Alternator issue??? 1.7 diesel....
Hello Gareth,
no probs at all! I'm sorry that I offered and then realised it's miles away! The ebay one should be fine but let me know if not and I'll post you mine. In case it is the alternator itself that has a fault I have a 65 amp one here which works ok...
Hope all is well with you all and the new brush pack sorts your problems
Ewen
no probs at all! I'm sorry that I offered and then realised it's miles away! The ebay one should be fine but let me know if not and I'll post you mine. In case it is the alternator itself that has a fault I have a 65 amp one here which works ok...
Hope all is well with you all and the new brush pack sorts your problems
Ewen