Electrics Help

[ToNkA]

Started my hilux today and after starting fine, the Charge Light, T-Belt and Filter Lights remained on. Drove on a bit and stoped the car and restarted and they all turned off. Then 2 hours later they all came on again.

I am sure its a fault of some kind but what would I be looking for and where? Something off the battery? Alternator? In the dash?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers

[killalux]

i would say it would be a fault in the regulator on the alternator

[ToNkA]

And that would be? Not to good with electrics, care to explain that to me?

I pulled out the Ignition and Engine Fuses and the lights didn't come on and the engine started fine, everything else is working fine, lights etc...

[RUFF]

Reg is a black steel box on the inner guard that usually has about 10 wires comming out of it and a round green plug about the diameter of a 20 cent coin.
My guess is worn or dirty brushes in the alternator. Getting mud in the alternator is common and usually gums up the brushes or rusts them.

[killalux]

i would prob agree with ruff actually, i forget that the older luxes have an externall reg.

[ToNkA]

So nothing I can do then other than get an auto elect. to fix it for me then?

:(

[ToNkA]

Well I replaced the Voltage Regulator and still no luck, the charge light, T-Belt and Filter Light all stay on and are very bright.

I turned on all my electrical systems to drain the battery till the lux almost didn't start and once it did; the warning lights all stayed on and were all still very bright.

No wires seem to be loose. What I dont get is, why would the lights come on, I stop and start the car and they all turn off then I drive for 2 hours straight and the lights all come on again and have stayed on since. If the Alternator was not working wouldnt my lights/radio etc start to fade including the warning lights on the dash, they all still work fine.

Also can I drive around with it or am I destroying my battery?

Come awwwn anyone got ideas?

[ToNkA]

no one else

Meant to be wheeling tomorrow and don't want to have to cancel cause of this.

[RUFF]

Sorry Tonka. Have you actually tested to see if it is still charging? With a Multi Meter?

Have you checked the brushes yet? These are fairly easy to check. Look on the top of your alternator and where the main charge wire bolts on you will see 2 10mm nuts either side of this. Unbolt them and you should be able to remove the entire brush assembly if its just stuck then clean it and spray some crc on it and re-fit it. This should fix the problem.

My old deisel Hilux used to light up all the warning lights when i drove through deep water but it never caused any other problems.

I wopuld say if its still charging then you should be right for 1 days wheeling then go see an auto elec if it continues.

[ToNkA]

I tested the regulator with a multimeter and it didnt correspond to what it said in my manual. Didnt test the alternator as it just started to get confusing and I ran out of time (not at home atm, no garage and its raining) Will do the CRC trick tomoz and go wheeling anyway.

All my warning lights come on in deep water too but soon go off, so maybe its just a small short or a lose wire. I am leaving the car in melb tomoz night and having someone look at it monday.

Thanks Ruff.

[bazzle]

Brushes, stuck or worn out.

reason lights come on in water is fan bekt slips on pulley so min charge.

Bazzle

[ToNkA]

Yup, thanks people.

Brushes were toast.

[berazafi]

Exept my alternator is charging fine, hapened after going through mud mq patrol any help

[ToNkA]

Exept my alternator is charging fine, hapened after going through mud mq patrol any help

Huh?

Holly Thread Revival Batman!

[robbie]

I was thinking the same thing..