LR90 - Battery warning light after engine switched off

Greetings. I bought a 1988 LR90 last night, and it's in for an MOT today. I noticed when I dropped it of that the battery warning light stayed on despite everything being switched off (lights/engine etc). The mechanic couldn't start it this morning and is currently charging the battery. Would anyone have any ideas what this might be? I'm not too experienced with landys in all honesty, and I get the feeling that I'll have to hit the ground running with this one though Cheers for any help. Tom.

Hi there just had this go on my ninety and it needed a new alternater which cured the problem. Could also be the starter so check them both

Thanks for the reply. I think that the alternator must be ok, as it drove back in the night, without the battery warning light, and very strong headlights/wipers etc. It was starting ok last night, with no warning light even while the glow plugs were on, so I'm not sure. I've just had the starter motor and alternator go on my laguna recently, so I know the symptoms!

Exactly the same happened to mine. All was fine whilst running with headlights and blower on but when i switched off the engine the battery light stayed on. I believe something had fused in the alternater. But please rule out this first by testing them.

i world say either a dodgy alternator or the alternator/engine harness has become damaged by the exhaust or engine bay causing a short

got a mechanic who thinks it could be a dodgy diode in the alternator, so it looks like you could be right. The current might be feeding back the wrong way :/ Will look in to it properly soon. Good news on the MOT though, it looks like she's a solid old girl, needs new brake hoses and a couple of other things, but not too much

check the ignition switch is actually switching off all it poles too.

boydy1989:

Could you elaborate? It sounds interesting, but I'm not sure how I'd go about checking that to be honest. I'll certainly look in to it though.

Cheers. Tom.

The alternator light circuit has a switch in it, the ignition switch (where the key goes in) and if one of the contacts in this has stuck on it could POSSIBLY lead to the light staying on without the key.

I havn't checked the wiring diagram, so im not sure if this would be viable or not, as this fault may also result in other things like the engine not switching off with the key - im not sure.

peterpanandtink said:

Could also be the starter so check them both

Click to expand...

Explain that one?


Right - Wire goes from battery to ignition switch, (different wire to the fuel shut off Boydy) out the switch via charge light to alternator, when the alt is not charging it acts as an earth, when it spins up the voltage across the lamp is 0v because the alt is charging and the whole system sees the same voltage, no potential difference = no lit lamp.

So for the lamp to stay on:

It sounds to me like the regulator pack on the alternator is dodgy.

But that circuit should be isolated when the ignition is switched off, so check the ignition switch.

A simple way to do it would be to take the shroud off behind the steering wheel and one at a time pull the wires off the ignition switch (replace them as you go too) and if by pulling one of the little thin white wires off the light goes out then I would say its your ignition switch.

It's a blown penny diode in the alternator.

A fix is easy - stick a penny diode in the line to the bulb.

You can do this INSIDE the 'nator or outside.

If you fit a diode the wrong way the charge light won't work, so try the other way. As there are only two ways you'll soon get it sorted,

ME08

CharlesY

I can tell I'm going to like this place Sounds like a wealth of knowledge here! I'm going to get this checked out tomorrow now. Thanks for all the help! I'm going to post a new topic about this old warhorse in general now

tombardier said:

I can tell I'm going to like this place Sounds like a wealth of knowledge here! I'm going to get this checked out tomorrow now. Thanks for all the help! I'm going to post a new topic about this old warhorse in general now

Click to expand...

Too true ... but watch out for Landy leccies!

Lucas motto on their badge is "Lucas - King of the Road"

In the USA their experience of Lucas electrics caused the motto to be chaged to "Lucas - Prince of Darkness" !

Do as Discomania suggests and check the IGN switch wiring. It is possible a snag there can do this.

CharlesY

Greetings chaps.

It turned out to be a wire that had burnt through. All fixed now, and re-routed

MOT cost me £558! :O

FOOOOOOOOOOK ME!!! What did it need!!

Be very careful! that couls have been an engine fire!

I found out that the nice farmer hadn't been completely honest with me (by looking at the computerised MOT record). He'd tried to MOT the vehicle last year, and it failed on a lot of the stuff I had it failed on.

His list is here:

Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)
Nearside Front to flexi Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Nearside Front from flexi to caliper Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Offside Front to flexi Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Offside Front from flexi to caliper Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Offside front to rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Nearside Front seat belt fixing Vehicle structure has an inadequate repair, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.3)
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine (7.4.B.2)
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.1b)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)
Nearside Front drag link end Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.3)


And mine is here:


Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Offside Rear Direction indicators not in good working order (not working) (1.5.A1b)
Offside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.4)
Centre Exhaust has a mounting that it does not fully support the exhaust system (7.1.1b)
Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Advisory Notice issued
Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (3.6.D.3)

it's all sorted now, and the garage replaced my rocker cover gasket in addition to that, so there's no oil ****ing over the place now.. in two minds about whether i appreciate that, as I just asked if they could see where the oil was coming from, and they just went ahead and did it, but I'm happy that I've got a nice tidy landy at the end of it... (apart from the ally corrosion on the bodywork, and the rusty wheel rims hehe)