Defender 90 Alternator

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S

SJE

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Having just booked my 1998 Defender 90 into a main dealer to sort out an electrical problem, a mate suggested that I join Landyzone to see if anyone could help (and save me lots of cash!). With the engine ticking over, the battery warning lamp is just on. With more revs, the lamp gets brighter and flashes, with the flashing getting quicker with more revs. With lights on, the whole of the lamp is lit, with no flashing. At no time is the lamp completely off. Not long before this started, the rear interior bulb went and a replacement doesn't work. We were towing and got stuck on a hill in some slurry - lots splashed around. We only noticed the warning lamp when the trailer was later disconnected. I removed the interior light fuse to see if this made a difference, but it didn't, although unexpectedly, the CD motor started up on replacing the fuse. The dealer is insisting it is probably the alternator.
 
Does the alternator belt squeal at all and is it adjusted correctly?

Alternator shouldn't be a difficult DIY fix and a quick look at Paddockspares.com shows most of the defender alternators are well under £100. How much s the main dealer quoting to replace it?
 
Yes, the belt is squealing, not very loud, but noticeable. Dealer quoted just over £300 to change the alternator. £200 for the part, £100 labour (1 hour). I had the alternator checked at a local tyre place and their test kit said it was OK. My initial thought was that maybe some greasy manure has got onto the belt. Any thoughts of what I can put onto the belt to possibly remove any grease?
Thanks,
SJ
 
Don't go there... once a belt is contaminated and squealing the only real fix is to replace the belt. You'll end up spending more on 'quick fixes' than you will on a new belt and the quick fixes won't work for long.

Wih that said, one quick fix that does sometimes work is to retension the belt properly if it's a little on the loose side.

Best bet, replace the belt, they're usually about a tenner delivered from Paddocks - no idea what the LR dealer price would be, but it shouldn't betoo different to that.

Cheers,
 
Cheers.
Just called the dealer and they are going to change the belt Thursday morning. They reckon that it's about a 15 minute job, with most of the time spent ensuring that there is no crud on the pulleys. I'll let you know what happens.
Thanks
SJ
 
I wouldn't trust a cheapo belt from any of the mail order places mine only lasted a few months so I put the old one back on and it's still going strong. But as the Main dealer is doing it you should end up with a decent one.

If you've got a multimeter then the alternator is easy to check just put the probes on the battery terminals with the alternator set to the DC voltage bit to the nearest setting above 12V, probably 25V. And with the engine on a fastish tickover you should get a reading of 13.5ishV.

If the light stays on then the diodes have probably gone in the alternator. Apparently you can change these on some alternators, if you can't then it's easy enough to change the alternator and they cost about £80 from auto electrical places. Try the Yellow Pages.
 
he means the multimeter but as you asked an alternator is an AC machine which uses diodes to convert from AC to DC as required by yer vehicle
 
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