Disco 2 TD5 - Intermittent charging

Hi,
next on my list of problems to fix is the intermittent battery charging.
I have a hard-wired voltmeter. This says 14.1 sometimes but other times varies around 12v which reduces over time (I assume due to not charging).
Then it may suddently start working and jump to 14+ volts.
Originally the fault occured rarely but has been becoming more common. These days it's bad more than it's good.
I spoke to a mechanic who told me alternators tend to either work or not at all, rather than ok sometimes and not working other times.
So could it be something else? Seems like something is getting worse over time; could that still be something like a broken connection?

New battery??


Kev

Badger688 said:

New battery??


Kev

Click to expand...

Replaced it last year, no difference.

bukko said:

I spoke to a mechanic who told me alternators tend to either work or not at all, rather than ok sometimes and not working other times.
So could it be something else? Seems like something is getting worse over time; could that still be something like a broken connection?

Click to expand...

It could be a bad contact somewhere even within the alternator... check the exposed connectors and if nothing visible and the alternator is old better replace it to be ruled out cos it's feckless to chase a wiring issue without being certain first that the alternator is OK .. just do something cos this intermittent charging can ruin your new(ish) battery

sierrafery said:

It could be a bad contact somewhere even within the alternator... check the exposed connectors and if nothing visible and the alternator is old better replace it to be ruled out cos chasing a wiring issue without being certain that the alternator is OK is feckless... just do something cos this intermittent charging can ruin your new(ish) battery

Click to expand...

Yes, it did occur to me that it could still be a connection issue inside the alternator itself, and I could be chasing that forever unless I at least try another one first. And as you say, meanwhile I'm potentially damaging the battery.
There seem to be some new OEM ones on Ebay for £120 ish, I think I'll give one a go.
Thanks!

bukko said:

Replaced it last year, no difference.

Click to expand...

Already answered my next question!

Kev

I agree about it possibly being inside the alternator.
Happened to me once coming back from Paris in a Transit minibus with a load of kids. Took it to a garage who said it wasn't brilliant but it should get me home.
On the Mway from Portsmouth the lights dimmed and dimmed and dimmed, and the revs dropped accordingly. Until I thought I'd have to stop and call recovery, then suddenly all burst into life, lights back on full and engine running fine.
The blokey in charge of it in the school told me that they swapped it out and the fault was in the "diode pack"
OK.