Evening,

A quick question as after som searching I can’t find the answer although I think I know the answer deep down lol.

On my 2010 L322 it had a recent battery replacement at the time I brought it given the old one failed apparently. I checked the alternator out by just a voltage reading across the battery terminals when running and it was about 14.7v so all seemed fine.

Today the wife got the charging warning on the car and when she parked up I checked across the battery and that was 12.4 (so about half charged) and with car running it was the same so instant conclusion was alternator is knackered it’s only done 50k miles but still nearly 10 years old etc. Now I was getting a tow bar fitted so drove there and the warning was actually intermittent, not on all the time, and on arrival it was not on the dash so I quickly checked across the terminals With the car running and although there is no warning on the dash the measurement was 12.5v so again alternator not charging I would
Assume but had been charging at some stage on the journey due to the voltage being 0.1 higher than earlier.

So the question is what activated the charging warning is it the system understanding the circuit is not charging or is it activated on the battery reaching a voltage of Say 12.4 ish and at that stage it’s obvious it’s not charging based on the reading?

Still convinced I need a new alternator but just interested in fully understanding what’s triggering the message as when it was not on the dash I would have expected to see the reading across the battery terminals higher (or can it read 12.5v whilst charging, unlikely but maybe some intelligence in the system doing something lol)

Lee

At 12.4 its not charing as you said, but its weird if your getting some charge although the 12.5 could have been with move stuff shutdown and the 12.4 with more things like entrainment turned on when you tested.

The alternator light should come on if it detects no charging so not sure why yours is not on all the time.

Silly question when you tested was it with engine off? is that when you get 12.4? as It could be if the engine is running that the battery has a failed cell and the alternator is charging but giving you 12.4 as the battery would only be 9 wish volts if it lost a cell.

I would be interested to understand if it is the alternator why you not getting the light.

Before my alternator failed for good, and the charging light came on, it was showing pretty much the same symptoms as you describe. This lasted for a few weeks, then died completely.
I had even taken my battery back to Euro Car Parts and got a warranty replacement AGM model, on the assumption it was the battery that was causing the problem. Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Looks like your alternator is dying there my friend, mine did a similar thing and gave up altogether after a couple of weeks.
They are not the nicest of jobs to do if its a 3.6 but doable at home if your handy with the spanners, theres a good how to in the wiki and will take plenty of patience

Oh and listen for an engine related “whirring” noise as it fails. This is a tell tail sign it’s on its way out.
It’s a bit of a pig to change but not impossible. At least you’re doing it when the sun’s shining  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Thanks everyone,

Yes lighthouse the engine was off at 12.4 and then on at say 12.5 but either way I assumed alternator or obviously something similar like a cable issue to create the same lack of charging.

Will see what the garage say who do the towbar as they are Landrover specialists so asked them to check codes etc and as the car has a warranty I told them if it is the alternator just do it so I don’t have to lol. Used to like tackling jobs like this but family and time mean it’s not so easy now lol although with a RR I assume I have better start to make time

Sounds like my thoughts on problem are right from some of your views so will no doubt go down that route, but will post a conclusion to the thread once I know as that will help others searching in the future.

Well garage confirmed its alternator so getting one fitted today at the same time as the towbar

Good news they confirmed it, I'd be interested to know how much they charge to replace it. Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Well once I find out I will let you know, I pay and then get money back from warranty company.

I am guessing 4 hours work and £200-300 for alternator?

The price for the denso alternator was £210 and then fitting all in was £350 then plus the VAT man

Overall considering I called with an issue about 8am yesterday they got the towbar done and the alternator really quick so I am lucky the warranty company will pay the costs but looking around price seemed fair compared to others and considering it was done very quickly the service was actually great. Got a coolant error after about 10 miles of driving but that would no doubt have been an air bubble working around and about 500ml of water solved that issue instantly.

Overall really good service from the garage.

So it was £350+vat, or £560+vat? Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

£560+VAT.

If car was not under warranty, it was not needed to be fixed with 24 hours and I was not already booked it there for something else I would have done it myself. I guess it would take me 4 hours the first time I do it but saved a load of cash as would just have needed to buy the alternator and then saved a decent amount to warrant getting dirty for sure.

For me though the garage saved my bacon and got me on holiday so they get a gold star for that as really need this little break to see some family and friends.

Just to keep the thread up dated.

Drove on holiday today and when parked up at final destination I noticed a small puddle on the floor and was coolant. I think the fluid is coming from under the expansion vessel but hard to tell at the moment.

Not a huge QTY as 300ml has refilled vessel and we travelled 200+ miles, but obviously when doing the alternator they have left a weeping joint etc so will check myself tomorrow.

Is there a connection for a pipe under the reservoir?

I think it is obviously based on the recent work done on alternator as was dry as a bone before hand since I had it.

Lee

There’s quite a lot of plumbing that needs undone to get to the alternator, so it’s hard to pin point exactly where the leak could be.

The clips can be quite hard to get back in place, so my advice would be check all of them. There is one to the bottom of the expansion tank but that’s one of the smaller easier ones to put back on. Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Thanks Alan

I dried it last night, not a huge amount at all, and then this morning checked levels with the bleed screw and cap off and it seems I topped it a little over what it should be (not much so just used a turkey baster to remove about 250ml lol).

Noticed there was moisture around the bleed screw on the expansion tank and the screw had a small amount of PTFE tape present although not much but left it for testing.

Put both caps on, ran it for 10 miles and when I was back there was more fluid around the screw so after a 200+ drive I am sure that would great the QTY of leak I saw so going to sort this afternoon with the right amount of PTFE tape and then monitor it all.

This forum is great for info and the search function pointed me in the direction of the bleed screw in the first place.

Never guaranteed to solve it till it’s checked but it was bone dry before the alternator fix, the bleed screw would have been taken out to refill the system etc so I think it’s a good starting place