Alternator Problems!

jaw838

Can anyone offer any advice, other than using magic, how the hell do you get the alternator out of the bay, without having to take the coolant and air con connectors off?

Appreciated... :wtf:

nate

Re: Alternator removal

do you have to take it through the wheel arch? by taking the liner out?

DJBadBoi

Re: Alternator removal

Your going to have no chance without taking the coolant pipe off atleast no matter how hard you try you will need to take it off

jaw838

Re: Alternator removal

As confirmed by DJBadBoi the top coolant hose and unfortunately the aircon pipes have to be removed to take out the alternator ...

So, having done that my local auto electrician tells me that his tests on the alternator prove that it is working fine (on the bench), advise was a new pulley which was rather worn and a new belt. Having paid the air-con man £35 for a de-gas and now £42 for the pulley and belt I have put it all back together - oh and new coolant!

Annoyingly though I am no further forward to resolving my initial problem of a dead non-charging battery which was replaced only a month ago.
The battery - once charged - reads about 12.8v with a meter - within 25 mins this had dropped off to about 12.74v. Having read some of the other battery and alternator posts I am wondering Is this a concern folks as the battery on my Discovery doesn't seem to drop off :?:

Once the Veccy is started the meter initially shows 14.44v - pretty reasonable - but it fails to sustain this level and continues to drop off, with the engine on a fast idle of about 1200rpm the meter still only shows 12.44v :x When left to idle normally it measures 12.70v - similar then when switched.

So ... nearing my wits ends folks ...
The alternator man reckons its fine while the battery man (who sold me the battery about a month ago) blames the alternator - dunno.. - whose door should I knock (DOWN) first?

Your opinions and advice appreciated ...

nate

Re: Alternator removal

its very hard to do but test the alternater at its terminal on the back while itrs running, be very carfull though, im having the same problem, the rac chap said that there may be a break in the line from the alternator to the battery, taking a reading direct from the alternater will show this up

cavaddict

Re: Alternator removal

Best and simpliest way is to remove the inlet manifold. Cheap as chips too. Just done it myself.

jaw838

Re: Alternator Problems ...

Having done a few more checks this evening I feel that I'm no further forward unfortunately. 🙁
Had the battery checked today at an independent garage where they seem to think that it is fine.

Again upon starting the engine tonight, with the battery having had a reasonable charge beforehand, it registered a good 14v+ on the voltmeter, then gradually dropped off. When I loaded the system with lights (main and fogs), stereo, rear screen heater and hazards the voltage measurement dropped down to 11.54v - failing to recognise the need to charge. cryb.. After letting it then idle for about 10+ mins it failed to start as there was not enough power in the battery to kick start her!

I also took a voltage measurement off the terminal on the alternator and the reading is the same as from the battery terminals, there or thereabouts.

Can anybody tell me what voltage readings they get off your 2.2 Veccy's please ... both at idle and loaded ??
Advise, comments and thoughts appreciated folks.

jaw838

Bad form replying to your own postings I know but I thought an update might be required.

I had a bit of a Google earlier and found a couple of interesting postings (elsewhere):

Both got me thinking - the first regarding the possible problem with the tensioner and a/c compressor is something that I had thought of over the weekend. Having had a new pulley put on my alternator it should run well, but then what if the a/c unit was struggling and causing the belt to slip or rotate slower than required? I am not getting the battery/alternator warning light come on when the engine is running; it comes on and goes out as expected during turnover/start. So, to prove the a/c unit either way I may get a z22se VX220 (non a/c) belt to bypass this pulley - a cheapish test that could help find the real cause for a non-charging alternator. As for the auto-tensioner, well it seems to release and tension OK when I put the new belt on -- is this a serviceable item rather than new replacement?

Regarding the second posting - battery drain - I did a quick ammeter test with the multimeter as described before.
Voltage check after charging reads 12.98v nicely topped up. The drain test (checked twice) showed a 0.04a draw. After checking this I then rechecked the voltage and it measured 12.65v. Having reconnected the negative lead to the battery terminal it then measured 12.63v; some 20 minutes later it has dropped to 12.58v :-( This is going to be painful I fear!

To ask again chaps, please let me what voltage readings you are getting off your 2.2 Veccy's can you ??
Advise, comments and thoughts appreciated folks.

jaw838

So before it started hammering it down with rain tonight I tried a few things out ...

I tried using a jump lead to add an extra earth option from the engine block to the battery - made no difference to the voltage reading on the meter :thumbdown:

Also tried an smaller drivebelt - the non aircon version (P5K880) to eliminate belt slip through off the a/c pulley - again, this made no difference to the voltage reading on the meter :thumbdown:

So, my next check will I guess be checking the + lead off the alternator through starter and the battery ...

Any other idea please notsure.gif