Electrical / Alternator Issues

[IanD]

Hello all,

Have been out in the Bongo this evening, first time in the dark / rain for a long time. Started fine each time we stopped. On the way home the hold light started flashing, rev counter / speedometer were going mad, blower / wipers not working properly.

Pulled over to investigate and Bongo would not start again. There did not seem to be enough juice in the battery to turn it over. Managed to jump it of the liesure battery and got home. Hold light flashing occasionally, charge light coming on then off. Speedometer and rev counter not working at all or needles bouncing around.

Got home and checked voltage across the batery, its reading at 9.5 volts. Alternator belt is ok and alternator is turning. Haven't been able to do many more checks as I've run out of daylight. Plan to test the voltage across the alternator tomorrow morning.

Does this sound like a shot alternator or could it simply be the battery. Am planning to head to the bash next Wednesday so I want to try and get it sorted quickly. Any ideas? It typical, the bongo is booked in for its MOT first thing tomorrow!

Thanks all.

[Poohbear]

Could be either but I think that your alternator has probably gone. Ours did exactly the same when our alternator went, in the middle of the Forest of Dean with no phone signal!

[IanD]

I thought it might be, at least we didn't get completely stuck. I only put the liesure battery back in yesterday, glad I did. Will do a couple more checks and then buy a new alternator if nothing comes up. Thanks very much.

[Northern Bongolow]

check all the connections, sounds like a bad connection on the smallest wire off the alternator, this is also the easiest to damage.
check the main engine to body earths and the battery to body earth/s. may just save you a shilling or two.
you say you have just put the leisure battery back in, this may be a clue.

[IanD]

Thanks all for the advice. I did a few more checks on connections, wires, battery etc and came to the conlcusion that the alternator was toast.

Ordered a replacement that arrived today. Fitted it. The battery is now reading 14.5 volts at idle and around 14.2 under load, so hopefully all is sorted. Off for a quick test drive tomorrow evening then up to the bash on Wednesday.

[Poohbear]

Thanks all for the advice. I did a few more checks on connections, wires, battery etc and came to the conlcusion that the alternator was toast.

Ordered a replacement that arrived today. Fitted it. The battery is now reading 14.5 volts at idle and around 14.2 under load, so hopefully all is sorted. Off for a quick test drive tomorrow evening then up to the bash on Wednesday.

Where did you get your replacement alternator from and how much was it?

[Northern Bongolow]

The battery is now reading 14.5 volts at idle and around 14.2 under load, so hopefully all is sorted. Off for a quick test drive tomorrow evening then up to the bash on Wednesday.

sounds high whilst on idle unless your batt/s are down, maybe an idea to check the idle output is dropping when your batts are topped up.

[IanD]

I got the alternator from the bongo shop. It was £270 but will get £65 back for returning the alternator. Didn't shop around as I needed to be sure that it would arrive in time for us to go to the bash. Service was spot on. Can also take the old to the bash with me to save on postage. There are plenty on ebay, but if spenidng the money its best to make sure you get a decent one.

Have checked the output today ands is reading 14.2 at idle still. The last time I checked it a while back before the alternator died it was readying 13.9. I am using a cheap digital multimeter though so I don'tust it 100%. I'm gonna check it with a decent analouge one later.

My liesure battery and main battery are completel seperate as I haven't fitted a split charge yet. Plan to do this next year.

[markdswan]

Hi,

I have a very similar story of woo, Our van broke down on the A1 in the pouring rain last Monday, same symptoms, as well as the auto gearbox making rubbish decisions about which gear to select. Just about managed to limp it into a good garage in Welwyn Garden City, and she's still there! The van had a new alternator about 4 weeks before this incident for the same reason, we now believe that the battery was also shot leading to high current drain on the alternator (would do you all think of this hypothesis?). So a new battery is fitted but we are struggling to find an alternator with the right pulleys (I believe we need a VP pulley?? is this the usual type?)

The mechanic is starting to think that the alternators he is sourcing are the wrong spec. Is there only one type for a V6? Will it definitely have the right pulley on it if I buy it from the right place, i.e. the bongo shop. Is there any possible other cause of the excessive current draw from the alternator, we have isolated the leisure battery and associated split charger to rule them out of the problem.

Any advise would be gratefully received, its costing me a fortune in hire cars at the mo!

Mark

[mikeWalsall]

My alternator packed up over the June bank Holiday ... I had already fitted a new 90ah battery as I new that the old one was not holding it's charge ..

I found trying to source a new V6 alternator local to be impossible, so a local company repaired /re built mine ..

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=56134

As my Bongo is 14 years old I don't know for sure if the one fitted is the original one ... when I did a Google on the make / part number I found that the same one is fitted to Citroen ..Fiats .. Peugeots ...

The pulley / fan belt on mine is a wide / flat ribbed type and not a 'V' type ..

[teenmal]

Hi,

I have a very similar story of woo, Our van broke down on the A1 in the pouring rain last Monday, same symptoms, as well as the auto gearbox making rubbish decisions about which gear to select. Just about managed to limp it into a good garage in Welwyn Garden City, and she's still there! The van had a new alternator about 4 weeks before this incident for the same reason, we now believe that the battery was also shot leading to high current drain on the alternator (would do you all think of this hypothesis?). So a new battery is fitted but we are struggling to find an alternator with the right pulleys (I believe we need a VP pulley?? is this the usual type?)

The mechanic is starting to think that the alternators he is sourcing are the wrong spec. Is there only one type for a V6? Will it definitely have the right pulley on it if I buy it from the right place, i.e. the bongo shop. Is there any possible other cause of the excessive current draw from the alternator, we have isolated the leisure battery and associated split charger to rule them out of the problem.

Any advise would be gratefully received, its costing me a fortune in hire cars at the mo!

Mark

Hi Mark,

If you are stuck,would it not be possible to change the pulley from the old unit to the new unit (providing that the pulley is OK?.

Cheers.

[markdswan]

Thanks teenmal, we've already been down this road, however some new info has come to light which might clear this all up.

The alternator that was fitted 4 weeks ago, and that we have been trying to match was a 70Amp version, and I believe the V6 should have a 90Amp version (which the original was!) however the camper conversion people (who shall remain nameless at this time!) fitted a battery isolator (which I guess is a series of diodes to seperate the engine and leisure batteries etc) between the alternator and the two batteries which was only rated a 70A.

So I now think the timeline is.

Van bought (2months ago), with good working correct alternator, under rated isloator fitted and duff engine battery.

Duff battery and possibly failing isolator (yet to be proven) produced to much resistive load for the alternator which eventually gave up

Alternator 2 was fitted, but was a 70A version (which the pulley was switched onto), which inevitably burnt out quicker due to being even further out of spec.


So, A proper 90A alt has now been ordered, a new battery fitted, and for the time being we will leave the isolator/leisure system out of the loop


More soon, your comments and thoughts are appreciated!

[markdswan]

Oh, and we managed to get a quote for a new part direct from Japan!

Only £886!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[teenmal]

Oh, and we managed to get a quote for a new part direct from Japan!

Only £886!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does it come with the wee lady with a parachute on her back.

[markdswan]

Sorry Mike, I missed you reply further up the thread.

We have now sourced a 90A alternator from Lee at mazdabongoshop who seems very knowledgeable. Mechanic and he have chatted direct and everyone is confident! just under £200 delivered, I would get back £35 if I could return my old one, but it's had a lump ground off, so I'm not sure he's going to be interested!

Fingers Crossed!