Hi all,

Well bang it goes again, this is the third one and this time the failure is quicker than before...!!! (l322 4.4 v8 2002)

There is obviously an underlining problem and I have read a few thoughts,

1. Battery has faulty cell - buying new battery just working out which one..

2. Faulty earth somewhere causing alternator to fail ???

3. Unlikely but third alternator failed !!!

So my question is do you have any knowledge of this and are able to provide pointers as its getting a bit ridiculous.. ?

I have ordered another alternator which is a genuine Landrover unit... in preparation but don't want to fit until problem sorted, as they are not cheap....

HELP ?????

Barry

I am as hopeless with electrics as I am with mechanicals. But until someone learned in the craft comes along - are you able to measure the voltage in your battery, perhaps before and after a couple of hours on a charger? This might help identify a duff battery? 2003 4.4 HSE Epsom Green / Sand. Lovely!

What were the symptoms of the first alternator failure?

They have all been the same but the frequency is increasing (ie time between them failing is less)

The car has the battery light come on then various warning messages then slowly shuts down.... I have replaced twice since November... last one being less than 3 months... but they have until now been under warranty but they will not warranty anymore...

Does that help ? [/quote]

Might be worth having a word with these guys

barry,

battery from eurocarparts ,type 020 bosch/varta 110amphr 920 cca, discount codes in 'ebay and bargains spots' section.

a bad earth will cause surges and knacker the alternator.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Thanks Stan, reserved the Bosch Battery as Varta not available.. 5 year guarantee so looks a good deal.. just under £100 !!!

Thanks for the nudge

 ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

I'm as we speak in the middle of changing my alternator. Currently sat on the garage floor waiting for a phone call from the garage to tell me they have my new water pump. had a slight leak so taking the opertunity to change it out. i got my new alternator for £240 and the same garage told me they could overhaul/service the old one for about £80. might be worth a though before you put you VERY expensive landrover one in. I was quoted £700 from one landrover garage and £1020 to buy it outright! [img]http://www.fuelly.com/driver/rob2529/range-rover[img/]
04, 4.4V8, Vogue Oslo Blue with LPG.
"You can sleep in your car, BUT you can't race your house!!!!"

If something can't be fixed with a hammer....... You have yourself an electrical fault!

Hi Rob...

Managed to get Genuine Landrover one for £400 plus VAT which I thought was a bargain... brand new....

but yes good thinking, have a friend who is good with electrics who has offered to test the full circuit, battery and alternator first, he thinks a possible bad earth too...

Thanks

Considering the age of your car, I think (or actually I hope) it is a bad earth somewhere. Suggest to undo all earth connections, clean them thoroughly (white metal/bright copper) and reattach. Then cover in vaseline to prevent further corrosion. Biggest problem in car electrical systems (I drove Alfa Romeo for years ) is bad connections, just a bit of resistance due to corrosion and you have no voltage left.

Good luck and I hope they can refurbish your current alternator. We (my dad and me) used to do that all the time, also with starter motors. Brushes cost you about 1 GBP (eq.) in Holland and the work is an hour or so (including removal and installation). Most rectifiers are also easily changed, sometimes rectifier and brushes are a single unit that you can take out and replace easily (obviously the brush/rectifier unit is a bit more expensive). MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

ebajema

Thanks for the thought, it's been mentioned a number of times the earthing.... will be doing that first, once happy we'll change battery and alternator...

Thanks

Keep us posted please, I for one am very interested. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Agree with the above ^^^.
Also make a point of locating the engine block earth strap, goes from engine block to sub-frame / body.
The sub-frame / body connection is always suspect on cars of a certain age.
This earth strap also acts as the electrical return path for the alternator current from the body so it is very important it is in good conndition electrically.

Thanks nicedayforit