Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Whilst driving down the Monash yesterday I noticed that my warning lights for the alternator and the hand brake were glowing. Not brightly with the alternator being brighter.

My volt meter dropped to 10 volts, it is usually around 13.5.

The car ran well, wasn't spluttering and I thought I may be able to get home before the battery dies.

when I changed down a gear at a round about the lights went out and all instruments resumed to normal. It did happen again later that night and seemed most ffected when I was braking, changing gears etc. I checked the standard earth cable, ( feeble looking thing) and it was in one piece.

Trying to figure out if this an earth problem, alternator or battery terminal.

perhaps contacts in the voltage regulator sticking? stoping the alternator kicking in? then a corner or bump allows them to seperate again?

not sure but 1 idea.

Check your body and dash earths as well.

love_mud wrote:Check your body and dash earths as well.

Dash earths??....if say the instruments housing bezels in the dash are a bit loose this could trigger it.

Will check it out.

My statesman does the same thing, would be interested to find out what it is. Goes away when i whack the dash but.

Have on occassion had Jap cars (and trucks) do funny things with the instrument lighting when the alternator brushes are nearly worn out.

I assume some (all?) of the warning lights earth through the alternator (through the brushes) and as they wear, the brush springs extend, but loose their tension as they reach the limit of their travel.

Peter H

Start by checking the fan belt.

Defective vehicle... Slap a canary on it ...


Could be a few things but I'd call the alternator No.1 suspect..
Maybe a close second would be the regulator although it it is probably built into the alt.

Pharb wrote:Have on occassion had Jap cars (and trucks) do funny things with the instrument lighting when the alternator brushes are nearly worn out.

I assume some (all?) of the warning lights earth through the alternator (through the brushes) and as they wear, the brush springs extend, but loose their tension as they reach the limit of their travel.

Peter H

It has gotten worse now but has a quirk to it. Started it this morning , dash lights were out, reversed down the driveway, dash warning lights out, drove down the street and dash lights came on. It went out a few times but mostly stayed on.

Also noticed that the engine idle is much higher ( when the dash warning lights are on) so I wonder if the power to the auto choke is being affected

Will charge the battery tonight and have a real good look in the next couple of days.

RN wrote:It has gotten worse now but has a quirk to it. Started it this morning , dash lights were out, reversed down the driveway, dash warning lights out, drove down the street and dash lights came on. It went out a few times but mostly stayed on.

Also noticed that the engine idle is much higher ( when the dash warning lights are on) so I wonder if the power to the auto choke is being affected

Will charge the battery tonight and have a real good look in the next couple of days.

Another vote for alternator here. Maybe the revs rise as there is no load from the alternator as the field windings aren't energised?

Had a similar prob on my old Hilux. New alt fixed it.

get the alternator reco'ed before it shits itself and you have to tow it home!

Oh dear god look out its come lose,
Check the wires to the back of the alternater
then everything else everyone said so realy i didnt need to say anything cause they had it all right just like the sound of my voice typing

Apparently the jury is in, it's the alternator that is faulty. It is a non factory Bosch 65A ( aftermarket as it isn't aligned well on the pulleys but has been there since I bought it with only 55K on the clock .)

The auto electrician advised that the high idle may have something to do with the choke. It is an electric auto and somehow not getting the correct vaults to make it work properly. That's the theory.

If your in melbourne I could check out a price for a new one

beinthemud wrote:If your in melbourne I could check out a price for a new one

I checked a wrecker, $165. second hand.

..and auto electrician $220 to reco it.

Unless you can get a brand new unit close to the reco, then lock in' B' Eddie.

Id have to check but i think its was similar as a reco

Didn't try re-tighting the fan belt and then did a test just to make sure it's not a loose fan belt or too old and needs to be replaced?

May save some cash.

zagan wrote:Didn't try re-tighting the fan belt and then did a test just to make sure it's not a loose fan belt or too old and needs to be replaced?

May save some cash.

The auto elec tested the unit and it is RS. The belts aren't loose but are worn from being misaligned.

I had a similar thing happen in the 80, dash lights would come on randomly and flicker.
Was on the highway do a short stint and smelt something that took a while to register.....battery fluid.
Got home and put a multimeter on the battery and had 19v going in.

New alt (And to get it in and out the AC compressor needed to be de gassed, removed and re gassed when installed).

All up was only $440, So I was kinda happy in the end, until the battery died two weeks later.