Davlyn

Davlyn

Active Member
Can somebody try and shed some light on a issue I'm having with my P38 Diesel Auto.
My wife borrowed it the other night to pick up some bales from the farm, she reckons when she went out to it it came up "Alternator fault" but she took the key out put it back in again and it started ok (but my daughter reckon it sparked underneath???)
Anyway they drove it up to the farm loaded it with bales went to start it and drive off but the same again "Alternator fault" and "engine disabled" it did this a couple of times then she decided to give me the obligatory phone call telling me how wonderful the vehicle was and how she was so glad I had it and what a joy it was to have it,not.
Anyway after about 20 minutes she reckons they heard some clicking coming from under the bonnet so they tried it again and it started so they drove it home.
Obviously I left work in a stinking mood driving the company car like I had just stolen it as couldn't wait to get home to see what the hell they had done to my baby only to find they were right, turn the key all the lights come on the dash as they should but nothing, just the occasion click from what I think is the started motor.
What with the weather we have been having here down in Cornwall I have left it go for the last few days but today went out to have a look. My first thoughts were the battery, so I went off and bought a new super duper the biggest and best I could buy to fit in the hole, 110cca 1000ah Avon thingy.
Anyway I took it home fitted it and yes you guessed it still the same problem, the dash light up as it should, now I get the windows need setting and bonnet open but when I turn the key I get nothing other than the odd click.
I've tried locking it, leaving it and still I get the same. My first thoughts were a sticking starter motor so I have given that a smack with a piece of wood but it wasn't that. I've run the gear selector up and down from "P" to "1" thinking maybe it was thinking it was still in gear but it wasn't that either so I'm looking to you guys for some advice please.

regards,

Dave
 
Take a look at relay 16 starter relay and ignition control relay 19 in fuse box.
 
I've just been out to her again turned the key and away she went, left it running for a few minutes, turned it off and on a couple of times and its running perfectly.
I took the cover off the relay box and had bit of a sniff and a touch of the relays, one of the yellow ones at the front was warm but everything else seemed ok. I took them all out one at a time to check for signs of burning but they all seemed ok. Are all the yellow relays at the front of the box the same?
Obviously I would like to get to the bottom of this, the wife keeps on that the bloody thing needs to go its just not reliable enough but I want to keep it so to give me and the car a fighting chance I've got to sort this out.

regards,

Dave
 
Davlyn said:
I've just been out to her again turned the key and away she went, left it running for a few minutes, turned it off and on a couple of times and its running perfectly.
I took the cover off the relay box and had bit of a sniff and a touch of the relays, one of the yellow ones at the front was warm but everything else seemed ok. I took them all out one at a time to check for signs of burning but they all seemed ok. Are all the yellow relays at the front of the box the same?
Obviously I would like to get to the bottom of this, the wife keeps on that the bloody thing needs to go its just not reliable enough but I want to keep it so to give me and the car a fighting chance I've got to sort this out.

regards,

Dave
Click to expand...


All the yellow relays are indeed the same. Swap away.
 
If it said alternator fault, then odds on you have an alternator fault loading the battery.
 
Datatek, I have just been out with my son and had him keep his foot on the throttle whilst I measured the voltage, at 2000rpm I'm getting 13.3 volts at the terminal on the battery, would this alter your comment?

Dave
 
Davlyn said:
Datatek, I have just been out with my son and had him keep his foot on the throttle whilst I measured the voltage, at 2000rpm I'm getting 13.3 volts at the terminal on the battery, would this alter your comment?

Dave
Click to expand...
Should be 14.2 volts, so no, it does not alter my comment. The alternator fault message seems to be one of the few reliable messages on the P38.
 
Gentlemen, thank you all for your replies and help, fingers crossed she seems to be fine now. Just been out delivering presents to all and sundry (well I sat in the car whilst the wife did the running around) anyway all seems ok for the moment.

thanks again and Merry Christmas to you all,

Dave
 
Swapping the relays over seemed to have worked so I had a look on Rimmers site for some replacements. Is it worth buying the genuine Land Rover replays or should to copies be ok?

Dave
 
next time you swap the battery, use a set of jump leads to keep current on the battery leads, saves you resetting all the windows, sunroof etc.
 
marcostriumph said:
next time you swap the battery, use a set of jump leads to keep current on the battery leads, saves you resetting all the windows, sunroof etc.
Click to expand...
Yes and can lead you to shorting the lot out when the positive touches the metal work. Never had a problem disconnecting the battery on either of mine.
 
You did start off doing the right thing in my opinion, beating the bloody thing with a stick is always a good start, show it who's boss
 
Datatek said:
If it said alternator fault, then odds on you have an alternator fault loading the battery.
Click to expand...

Datatek can you elaborate a little for me on the above comment you posted. I went out yesterday to bleed some air out of the fuel system (daughter sat in turning the ignition on whilst I loosened the fuel union on the FIP) she must have turned the ignition on 3 or 4 times for me until I was happy all the air was out. Ignition probably only ran for a total of 30 seconds all told. On the last turn she turned the key 1 to many clicks and the car tried to start, realising what she had done she quickly turned the key back again just as the engine started.
I tided up the tools and went to start the engine but nothing. Well when I say nothing all the dash light came on but when I turned the key there is no life. So I swapped a couple of the yellow relays at position 16 and 19 over again and but still nothing, bare in mind I can't remember which ones I swapped the first time so I could have been putting the old ones back in so I swapped them all over but still nothing. On the last attempt to start her I got the "alternator fault" again.
I have taken the alternator off now and will drop it down to the auto electrican who serviced it for me about 6 months ago to get him to test it to see what the problem is. I am interested to know what you meant though that the alternator could be loading the battery, how does that happen, could this be what is causing the relays to pack up?
It had been starting perfectly prior to this but on the odd occasion I did get the "alternator fault" but chose to ignore it!
regards

Dave
 
Davlyn said:
Datatek can you elaborate a little for me on the above comment you posted. I went out yesterday to bleed some air out of the fuel system (daughter sat in turning the ignition on whilst I loosened the fuel union on the FIP) she must have turned the ignition on 3 or 4 times for me until I was happy all the air was out. Ignition probably only ran for a total of 30 seconds all told. On the last turn she turned the key 1 to many clicks and the car tried to start, realising what she had done she quickly turned the key back again just as the engine started.
I tided up the tools and went to start the engine but nothing. Well when I say nothing all the dash light came on but when I turned the key there is no life. So I swapped a couple of the yellow relays at position 16 and 19 over again and but still nothing, bare in mind I can't remember which ones I swapped the first time so I could have been putting the old ones back in so I swapped them all over but still nothing. On the last attempt to start her I got the "alternator fault" again.
I have taken the alternator off now and will drop it down to the auto electrican who serviced it for me about 6 months ago to get him to test it to see what the problem is. I am interested to know what you meant though that the alternator could be loading the battery, how does that happen, could this be what is causing the relays to pack up?
It had been starting perfectly prior to this but on the odd occasion I did get the "alternator fault" but chose to ignore it!
regards

Dave
Click to expand...

Sounds like your starter solinoid to me or a bad connection earth battery terminals tight ?? Earth straps ps I used to get alternator fault regular since I had my battery checked changed was 46% never seen alternator fault since so alternator fault can be many things check simplest thing first
 
I'm not ruling out the starter solenoid but it doesn't even click. I cleaned up the earth strap where it connects to the block a while ago so I know that should be ok. It's got a brand new battery and I know the terminals are on tight. Keep chucking the idea's at me,

regards,


Dave
 
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