BATTERY / ALTERNATOR - GOING IN CIRCLES

[markcromp]

Hello - first post. Going nuts here.
I have a Tplate LWB hitop 2.5D tranny that does van with a man.
it's been having probs charging the battery - holding bolt on the alternator was slipping so belt was loose - so no charge (not to mention that pulling at a funny angle its pulled funny on the water pump and that's leaking too)
Couple of days ago iffy starting, then the following day, dead as a doornail - I mean totally - no dash lights, not so much as a click.
Gave it a full charge, refitted, turned the key, started. Left it overnight, this morning, completely dead again.
Recharging again now but not optimistic - what else could I be missing - I know it SHOULD be the battery - that's what my head says, but my head isn't working as well since I started banging it against the van.
Any advice? - and which works better on the charger - low or hi - it's sitting steady as a rock on 4 if that means anything.
Cheers
(And West Ham for the Cup)

[MrMPuk]

Have you checked with a multimeter on the battery to see if the alternator is charging?

[markcromp]

no - don't have one - but could ask for a loaner. I guess this is a solution that only works when I've got it running?

markcromp

[MrMPuk]

You can get them for around £5 and yes you need to check with the van running.

[spondootre]

The basic check is to:

Check the voltage drop across the battery with the engine off say around 12-13volt
Start the engine
Check again (13-14volts but anything higher than the previous voltage is OK)
Now turn on eveything such as lights, heater, interior light etc etc)
Check again and the voltage with that extra load should still be above the first recorded voltage (12-13volts)

If this checks out then the alternator is fine and you should chrage the battery out of the van and see if it is able to hold a charge over a day or so out of the van, if not replace it, if it does then you need to tray a couple more tests to determine if you have a drain on the battery from something faulty. I've just been through all this and eventually put it down to a stupid flashing alarm light that was drawing too much from the battery and giving me a flat every few days.

[Gunslinger]

a favourite culprit for draining the battery when your not looking is the interior lights or the glove box light (if you have one), do all the things suggested above to rule out the alternator, but if its not that and the battery is charging and holding out of the van then put the multimeter in series on the + line and see what current you are draining from the battery with nothing on

[zien49]

Hi
Have you cheched all battery posts are clean and you have a good earth to to the body and solenoid, give them all a good clean then do all the other tests agane.DEREK

[madmark]

my old trick is to wait till dark. and then start it up ,put the lights on and give it rev if you can just see the lights get briter each time you rev from tickover then she is chargeing! but for your battery to be as flat as you say i would think something is draining it !

[markcromp]

still driving me nuts - not an alternator prob.
Put a new super beefy chock full of charge battery in, it started a treat, half dozen starts on the trot - vroom, off it went, no hesitation.
Wait overnight, nothing. Not so much as a click.
The radio's off - even when you turn it on with the engine off it has an automatic timed cutoff.
No glove light, interior light hasn't worked for years, cig lighter the same.
Tried pinching myself and hoping it all goes away - that didn't work either.
Cheers.

[rover]

Its time to start pulling fuses when you leave it over night and see if it still drains the battery..

Rover.

[markcromp]

for the most likely fuses to try first?
Is it likely to screw up the battery keep being drained to death, charged, drained etc?
the thing hasn't driven a yard in the last week.

[rover]

Batteries dont like being fully discharged too often thats for sure.

I know you say the interior light and fag lighter dont work but they are the ones I would start with, along with the stereo..

You could always charge the battery and completely empty the fuse box (take a pic first so you know exactly what goes where), then using a multimeter put them back in one at a time and see when the battery starts to drain.

Rover.

[markcromp]

sounds like a plan - ta