SomerdownRR
New Member
Hi. I'm near Malmesbury in Wiltshire and have owned my 1997 P38 2.5 DSE for 4 years. I've had all the usual problems which I've managed to sort out using this forum, so thanks everyone. However, I've got a couple of problems I can't get to the bottom of at the moment. They may be related or not.
First is a problem starting on cold. It takes ages to start, if at all, but once it goes it is fine. I've got a battery on it that is under warranty but have been informed that the alternator is pumping too much power into the battery and is damaging it so that it won't hold full charge. I can start the car if I charge the battery but, even though the battery seems to be whizzing the starter over well, it takes forever to start. Is there anything that can be done to fix the alternator? Is it controlled from elsewhere or does it just need replacing along with the battery? I'm not entirely sure the battery is the problem but I've replaced the glowplugs and leak off pipes and it was starting first turn of the key.
The next problem is that there seems to be no power getting to the switch pack on the cubby box (no windows, sunroof, mirrors etc). It keeps pinging the messages to reset the windows as I disconnected the battery but I can't because they won't work. I have disconnected the battery a couple of times with no luck. It stopped working after I used a boost on the battery charger to start the engine. All fuses seem OK but is there a fuse or relay controlling power to the switch pack please? The switch illumination lights work. There are several threads on this that seem to be conflicting. One says there is a relay but doesn't say which one.
My local main dealer suggests it is the BECM that has gone but I want to check cheaper things first as I suspect that a new BECM will cost more than the value of the car.
I would also mention that I left the drivers window open and sunroof on tilt when it rained about a month ago. The drivers carpet is damp. I have looked under there and there appears to be no broken or corroded wires. It has worked fine after the rain and it seems to much of a coincidence that the windows etc don't work after the boost start.
Any help would be appreciated. I love this vehicle as it is brilliant at towing and can't afford to replace it.
Cheers. John
First is a problem starting on cold. It takes ages to start, if at all, but once it goes it is fine. I've got a battery on it that is under warranty but have been informed that the alternator is pumping too much power into the battery and is damaging it so that it won't hold full charge. I can start the car if I charge the battery but, even though the battery seems to be whizzing the starter over well, it takes forever to start. Is there anything that can be done to fix the alternator? Is it controlled from elsewhere or does it just need replacing along with the battery? I'm not entirely sure the battery is the problem but I've replaced the glowplugs and leak off pipes and it was starting first turn of the key.
The next problem is that there seems to be no power getting to the switch pack on the cubby box (no windows, sunroof, mirrors etc). It keeps pinging the messages to reset the windows as I disconnected the battery but I can't because they won't work. I have disconnected the battery a couple of times with no luck. It stopped working after I used a boost on the battery charger to start the engine. All fuses seem OK but is there a fuse or relay controlling power to the switch pack please? The switch illumination lights work. There are several threads on this that seem to be conflicting. One says there is a relay but doesn't say which one.
My local main dealer suggests it is the BECM that has gone but I want to check cheaper things first as I suspect that a new BECM will cost more than the value of the car.
I would also mention that I left the drivers window open and sunroof on tilt when it rained about a month ago. The drivers carpet is damp. I have looked under there and there appears to be no broken or corroded wires. It has worked fine after the rain and it seems to much of a coincidence that the windows etc don't work after the boost start.
Any help would be appreciated. I love this vehicle as it is brilliant at towing and can't afford to replace it.
Cheers. John