Alternator not charging??

[VHPirie]

My alternator (4d56) has been dodgy since I bought my Triton about 9 months ago. About 2 weeks ago I finally decided to rip it out and take it in to an auto electrician to get new brushes put in it. It ended up costing me $150 as they had to put new seals in it and do some soldering as it was pretty bad apparently. Anyways I paid the $150, chucked it back in and it was charging at around 13.7v (still seems low I thought, thought it should be over 14v??). And since putting it back in we've tried numerous batteries as they all seem to not keep charge. Even ran a new wire from the back of the alternator straight to the battery incase the original was dodgy.

Well the battery we've been using for about a week died yesterday so checked the alternator again and it's not charging, it's reading about 11.5v.

Wat could be going on? I'm gonna ring the place up 2day that done the work on it and see wat they say, but somehow I think I'm gonna be left to fork out even more cash. They originally said about $40 to replace the brushes and I said ok, but if I knew they were gonna charge $150 I would of bought a new alternator. I don't wanna go thru the same thing again.

Could it be dodgy wiring? Everything is hooked up. Like I mentioned b4 it was charging at around 13.7v when I first put it in after getting it repaired, 1-2 weeks later and now it's showing 11.5v?

[57oky]

Hey mate,
This exact senario has happened to me. My alternator stopped charging so I also took it to someone to rebuild it, when shortly after it stopped working again. They told me that they did everything correctly and that the alternator itself was toast and I was left to bite the bullet and fork out for a new one, around $450 from memory, havnt had any problems since.

sounds like a very similar problem you have

[VHPirie]

I just wish if it was rooted they would of told me b4 they "fixed" it and slugged me $150 to do so. Gonna take the Triton there 2night and drop it off so they can check over everything incase it's sumfin I've done.

Here's the one I'm thinkin bout. It's 120amp, biggest I can find. I guess bigger is better?? Will cost $354 in total with postage.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 1988wt_905" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hey was just thinkin, if my redarc is rated at 100amp (pretty sure it is), would it still be ok with the 120amp alternator?

[scorpion 42]

I just wish if it was rooted they would of told me b4 they "fixed" it and slugged me $150 to do so. Gonna take the Triton there 2night and drop it off so they can check over everything incase it's sumfin I've done.

Here's the one I'm thinkin bout. It's 120amp, biggest I can find. I guess bigger is better?? Will cost $354 in total with postage.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 1988wt_905" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hey was just thinkin, if my redarc is rated at 100amp (pretty sure it is), would it still be ok with the 120amp alternator?

Yea, you'll have no trouble with that, as it lists several models and your 4D 56 is listed, your old one must have been coocked pretty bad and they took you on, ask them for a refund, but they will tell you where to go, more than likely, best of luck with the new one.

[VHPirie]

I just wish if it was rooted they would of told me b4 they "fixed" it and slugged me $150 to do so. Gonna take the Triton there 2night and drop it off so they can check over everything incase it's sumfin I've done.

Here's the one I'm thinkin bout. It's 120amp, biggest I can find. I guess bigger is better?? Will cost $354 in total with postage.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 1988wt_905" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hey was just thinkin, if my redarc is rated at 100amp (pretty sure it is), would it still be ok with the 120amp alternator?

Yea, you'll have no trouble with that, as it lists several models and your 4D 56 is listed, your old one must have been coocked pretty bad and they took you on, ask them for a refund, but they will tell you where to go, more than likely, best of luck with the new one.

The lady from the shop said the alternator didn't look to bad when they had it apart. But yeah sumfin ain't right if it only lasted a week. The Triton's been there for a few days now, they've been pretty busy but hopefully should get a phone call 2day or 2morrow from them to see wat they rekon.

[VHPirie]

Well I got good news and bad news. The good news is I got the Triton back and everything is working again....bad news is it cost me another $300, was worth it tho.

Turns out the auto computer gadget thingo for the glow plugs is cactus, which we knew. When I bought the Triton I hooked up a switch to a relay which put 12v at the rail which goes to the glow plugs. It worked. But apparently the old system which heats the glow plugs was on all the time while the ignition was on, or sumfin like that.

The sparky tested the battery and apparently there was about 90amps getting drawn and nothing was on! Turns out is was the glow plugs and sumfin with the headlights (just converted to HID's as well). The alternator was putting out 55amps (stocko alternator) and yeah the reason it was good to start with was due to the battery being charged, and as the glow plugs sucked the juice outta the battery the alternator couldn't keep up and eventually the battery was dead and it was sucking everything from the alternator.

Sumfin like that anyways. I got it back and it's charging. Just need a new battery now coz that's rooted too apparently. It's lucky I took the Triton to the sparky this time instead of just buying another alternator coz it would of done the exact same thing!

Hopefully can go for a spin up thru the Hills 2morrow...was gonna go last Sunday but that's when it died!!

[57oky]

looks like you finished your front bar there mate, looks good. Ive been watching your thread for updates but havnt seen much lately. looks as though your on your red P-plates again, that must suck. anyway your trucks lookin good mate, keep it comin

[Chris_McCartney]

This is common for 4D56 engines. When I had my 4D56T Pajero I ran a heavy duty cable with a relay directly from the battery to the glow plugs and a toggle switch mounted on one of the blanks on the dashboard. I would put on the ignition and flick the switch on, count to between 5 or 7 seconds, flick it off and start the engine. Theres a writeup on the Pajero Owners Club UK (POCUK) forum, will post a link below. As for alternators, you get get a specialist to replace the diode pack inside the alternator if necessary. Its a good idea after fitting a manual switch to test the switch with the glow plugs removed and check to see they all heat up nice and orange, you will be able to see which ones need replacing (if). Chris.

http://www.pocuk.com/forums/viewtopic.p ... highlight=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just wish I seen this post a lot sooner I could've saved you some time!

[VHPirie]

looks like you finished your front bar there mate, looks good. Ive been watching your thread for updates but havnt seen much lately. looks as though your on your red P-plates again, that must suck. anyway your trucks lookin good mate, keep it comin

Yeah it's pretty much finished, done it the other day. Just needs paint now! Haven't done much with the Triton for a while now as me and me bro have been workin on my other toy, a VK Commodore wagon. But that got defected, then the next day had a bit to much fun and fritzed a big end bearing, so pulled the 308 out (which I rebuilt myself, had only done about 2000k's max lol) and have put a 253 2gether which is ready to drop in. Will make it easier getting the defect off lol.






So yeah now the wagz is off the road for a while so playing with the Triton again!!

Oh and about the P plates. That's coz my little bro drives it. I lost my licence a few years ago, and still got a few years to go b4 I can drive on the road again. It sucks but it was my own fault. Was pretty stupid in my cars. Didn't crash, hurt or kill anyone, got 4.5yrs for doing burnouts (now we enter burnout comps instead lol).

This is common for 4D56 engines. When I had my 4D56T Pajero I ran a heavy duty cable with a relay directly from the battery to the glow plugs and a toggle switch mounted on one of the blanks on the dashboard. I would put on the ignition and flick the switch on, count to between 5 or 7 seconds, flick it off and start the engine. Theres a writeup on the Pajero Owners Club UK (POCUK) forum, will post a link below. As for alternators, you get get a specialist to replace the diode pack inside the alternator if necessary. Its a good idea after fitting a manual switch to test the switch with the glow plugs removed and check to see they all heat up nice and orange, you will be able to see which ones need replacing (if). Chris.

http://www.pocuk.com/forums/viewtopic.p ... highlight=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just wish I seen this post a lot sooner I could've saved you some time!

Thx for the info mate. Just signed up to POCUK and having a read now.