Dear Group

New to the group and seeking some support.

I have a poor starting 1990 90 Turbo Diesel with a couple of quirks
which I will try to explain.
Firstly, for the last year or more the 'Charge' light on the dash has
lit when ignition is on and extinguishes when engine running, as one
would expext. However, it glows brighter if load increases, OR if
engine speed increases. (Normally I would expect the opposite for
engine speed). High load and high revs gives a very bright light.
The alternator appears to function correctly as a voltmeter indicates
charging whilst engine runs and this increases as engine speed
increases, as one would expect.

Secondly, under starter motor use, the battery appears to lose most of
it's ability after just a couple of say 3 second 'crankings' (on these
cold mornings). Last year I put this down to poor battery condition as
it was about 6 years old, so I bought a new one!

I have had a new starter motor and nothing has changed. The battery as
I mentioned has been replaced.

Am I looking at a new alternator, should I be looking a fuel, glow
plugs, timing etc? Have I been swearing at the wrong parts?

Jase

In message <1162547161.868360.247740@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>
"Jase" <jiwaters@giggleswick.org.uk> wrote:

> Dear Group
>
> New to the group and seeking some support.
>
> I have a poor starting 1990 90 Turbo Diesel with a couple of quirks
> which I will try to explain.
> Firstly, for the last year or more the 'Charge' light on the dash has
> lit when ignition is on and extinguishes when engine running, as one
> would expext. However, it glows brighter if load increases, OR if
> engine speed increases. (Normally I would expect the opposite for
> engine speed). High load and high revs gives a very bright light.
> The alternator appears to function correctly as a voltmeter indicates
> charging whilst engine runs and this increases as engine speed
> increases, as one would expect.

That certainly doesn't sound right. The diode pack could be on
the way out.

>
> Secondly, under starter motor use, the battery appears to lose most of
> it's ability after just a couple of say 3 second 'crankings' (on these
> cold mornings). Last year I put this down to poor battery condition as
> it was about 6 years old, so I bought a new one!
>
> I have had a new starter motor and nothing has changed. The battery as
> I mentioned has been replaced.
>
> Am I looking at a new alternator, should I be looking a fuel, glow
> plugs, timing etc? Have I been swearing at the wrong parts?
>

If we ignore the alternator light for now (since you say the
alternator is charging ok), the starting symptoms would indicate
a bad earth between the engine/starter motor and chassis.
It's easy to test - take a jump lead from the battery -ve to somewhere
on the block (the lifting brackets work well). If it now starts better,
then the earth strap contact faces need a good clean up.

> Jase
>

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk
www.radioparadise.com - Good Music, No Vine
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

"beamendsltd" <beamendsltd@btconnect.com> wrote in message
news:f925f37f4e%beamendsltd@btconnect.com...
> In message <1162547161.868360.247740@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>
> "Jase" <jiwaters@giggleswick.org.uk> wrote:
>
> > Dear Group
> >
> > New to the group and seeking some support.
> >
> > I have a poor starting 1990 90 Turbo Diesel with a couple of quirks
> > which I will try to explain.
> > Firstly, for the last year or more the 'Charge' light on the dash has
> > lit when ignition is on and extinguishes when engine running, as one
> > would expext. However, it glows brighter if load increases, OR if
> > engine speed increases. (Normally I would expect the opposite for
> > engine speed). High load and high revs gives a very bright light.
> > The alternator appears to function correctly as a voltmeter indicates
> > charging whilst engine runs and this increases as engine speed
> > increases, as one would expect.
>
> That certainly doesn't sound right. The diode pack could be on
> the way out.
>
> >
> > Secondly, under starter motor use, the battery appears to lose most of
> > it's ability after just a couple of say 3 second 'crankings' (on these
> > cold mornings). Last year I put this down to poor battery condition as
> > it was about 6 years old, so I bought a new one!
> >
> > I have had a new starter motor and nothing has changed. The battery as
> > I mentioned has been replaced.
> >
> > Am I looking at a new alternator, should I be looking a fuel, glow
> > plugs, timing etc? Have I been swearing at the wrong parts?
> >
>
> If we ignore the alternator light for now (since you say the
> alternator is charging ok), the starting symptoms would indicate
> a bad earth between the engine/starter motor and chassis.
> It's easy to test - take a jump lead from the battery -ve to somewhere
> on the block (the lifting brackets work well). If it now starts better,
> then the earth strap contact faces need a good clean up.
>
> > Jase
> >
>
> Richard
>

It's a 90 innit, earth the battery to the transfer case instead of the body
outrigger. If it's not that, it is definitely a bad connection somewhere.

Martin