The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

Hi and welcome!

This sounds a lot like the symptoms I had when my alternator was on its way out. Maybe worth checking the voltage across the battery terminals with a multimeter when it's playing up?

I should probably mention that these symptoms were followed a couple of days later by the alternator belching out smoke. That was a scary moment!

Guess what! Video tags now working!

Sorry Vaz .. I've not been able to find a discernible mark on the alternator yet.

I'll try to remember to check the next time I'm underneath.

It is an exchange unit - and that spade connector botch on my van perhaps suggests that the connectors on this alternator are not the same as they were on the one that came new on the van .... ?

God that's confusing!

Anyway here's the "tell-tale" wire from the alternator ... if your battery dash light is lighting up .. this [and the plug / socket] should be on your checklist.

I'm guessing the spade connector fix isn't standard issue!

Hmm this all looks as it should to me:

What do you guys see?

Well .. 

The garage boys tested what you'd expect them to and everything came back clear ... and like me they were unable to replicate the issue.

So I went to collect the van, started it up and - you guessed it - battery light comes on dimly - getting brighter as I rev the van.

So I shouted one of the boys over and they came and had a look.

Then one of them sussed it - there's a tiny wire that comes from the alternator, which he referred to as the tell-tale wire, that goes to the light on the dash.

It ends in a plug that sits in a socket at the front of the alternator [I'll try to post a photo of it later].

Unplugged it, found a load of mush at the bottom of the socket, cleaned it with compressed air, plugged it back in ...

Bingo!

So what was essentially a minor sensor issue really did a good impression of a charging system problem.

Happy now - hopefully all good for the Bristol trip!

Thanks again everyone for your help - another school day!

Thanks Ken - good to know the numbers look right. I might see if I can monitor the voltages while driving as the light doesn't come on while idling ...

No noise from fan belt - but - it HAS been very cold/wet/damp this weekend!

How can I confirm if it's slipping?

Thanks again!

Had my MOT a couple of weeks back .. I've spent quite a lot on replacing steering / suspension in the last couple of years [we're at 175k] so was kind of hopeful all would be ok .. but also fearing something cropping up that would prove a step too far.

In the end we'd to replace a bulb, a tweak or two and had a couple of advisories - £58 all-in.

It's a balancing act isn't it - especially if you've invested time & money in comfort & warmth etc in the back.

No way I'd have persevered with this van if it wasn't also a safe & cosy home-from-home.

Glad I've stuck with it :-)

Evening .. Mine has been like that too since I got it at 125,000 - It's now at 175,000 and none the worse for having a floppy gearstick.

I'm sure it's fixable tho if it really bugs you but afraid I'm not sure what causes it.

Not sure about logistics - but just the other day ... https://dispatchexpertscudo.org.uk/foru … php?id=462

Sorry Casper - Meant to reply to this ages ago - not been to so many in recent years - but I was a stalwart at Knockengorroch for a decade - didn't miss a single one.

It's a properly special place / event and I can't recommend it enough. It's always been based around world / folk / electronic / reggae - so you've got one box ticked at least - but I'd say go anyway - great vibe, good people, nae trouble.

You'll love it.

I now live really close so I might make it this year ..........