Go Back   The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > Technical Help Forum
Register FAQ Image Gallery Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read
Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12th March 2017, 12:56   #21
boink
Avid contributor
 
Rover 75 Tourer

Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Stone
Posts: 149
Thanks: 88
Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Default

tried to clean out the connections I can reach but no different. Battery warning light did go off for around 4 miles at speed just now, then came back on again when down to 30. Had battery tested at a decent parts store who declined to sell me a battery (good people) but sticky battery on the charger for longer (it's only a 4 amp unit) and who reckoned water might have pushed gunk and debris around inside of alternator. Also reckoned charging problem could potentially be connected to a pulley.

If anyone can point me at a decent replacement alternator (and pulley?) I'd be grateful. Believe the Valeo on there currently is original part so it's done a fair bit of work.

Ta

Mike
boink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12th March 2017, 20:05   #22
boink
Avid contributor
 
Rover 75 Tourer

Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Stone
Posts: 149
Thanks: 88
Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Default Problem solved, maybe.

Was thinking about the starting point for this problem an hour or two ago and wondering if mud/carp from the water I drove through could've dried in the alternator causing a problem. Took a hose to it for a couple of minutes then with an extension lead used a hair dryer to dry it out for another five mins. Re attached battery making sure connections good and tight.

Battery light vanished as soon as I revved car and on checking with multimeter I'm getting 13.7 coming through and over 14 when revved.

A member has offered me an alternator which I'll be buying tomorrow if alternator reverts back to no charging tomorrow on the work run. Unorthodox solution if it has fixed the problem, and with any luck £400 + cheaper than the new alternator I was offered on Friday!
boink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12th March 2017, 21:47   #23
boink
Avid contributor
 
Rover 75 Tourer

Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Stone
Posts: 149
Thanks: 88
Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Default premature celebration

Quick drive to shops to test that it's still working, and the battery light, charging fault lights back on again. My unlikely water cure seems not to be a cure at all. Multimeter saying just 10.14 across the terminals now which I guess is just what the battery has dropped to.

Is it possible that the alternator is refusing to supply a charge when the battery has dropped below a certain level? It had charged up as high as 12.5 before I put it back in the car this afternoon.
boink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13th March 2017, 19:37   #24
boink
Avid contributor
 
Rover 75 Tourer

Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Stone
Posts: 149
Thanks: 88
Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Default

Back to working fine this morning after a tap from a broom handle. 8 mile journey. Then light on again coming home and corresponding lack of charge when tested with multimeter.

Taking Colvert's advice now and attempting the regulator and brush replacement in situ on Saturday. Ordered two and three pin versions from MGRS, following the 'how to' on here by Mr Lawrence.

Would have gone for a recon alternator fitted by a garage but can't find anyone who'll fit a part they haven't ordered themselves.
boink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th March 2017, 13:22   #25
boink
Avid contributor
 
Rover 75 Tourer

Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Stone
Posts: 149
Thanks: 88
Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Default Regulator advice needed

Got the regulator off after a fair bit of fiddling about with sockets and extension bars, and as Colvert and others suggested the brushed are really worn.

Unfortunately I've managed to disconnect one of the new brushed trying to get the unit back in. Its come away from the copper wire where solder must've been very thin.

Question is can I solder it back if I'm careful or is it a case of getting a new regulator or brush kit now? Could do with a word of advice re sliding the unit back into place too as I just cant see the brushes at all working from the top, so holding them back with a driver would need 4 hands! There is a protective cover supplied by MGRS. Use that to keep them in place until the unit is in place then slide off and replace with the version that allows the brushes to spring up?
boink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2017, 21:22   #26
boink
Avid contributor
 
Rover 75 Tourer

Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Stone
Posts: 149
Thanks: 88
Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Default

Managed to solder it back together and after a bot of a struggle got the regulator back on, using the plastic sheath supplied by MGRS, which I'd hope would get the brushes in situ when withdrawn. All back together and an optimistic turn of the ignition....battery charging light still on and battery measuring 12 at the terminals with no spike in amps when revved high.

I'm a bit baffled now so any suggestions before it goes into garage very gratefully accepted. I'm wondering if the broken brush could have snapped off when I released the plastic sheath (would I get any charge coming back with only one good one?) or whether it is just a loose belt after all.
boink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2017, 21:32   #27
COLVERT
This is my second home
 
R75 Saloon.

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: France/or Devon.
Posts: 14,003
Thanks: 3,851
Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by boink View Post
Managed to solder it back together and after a bit of a struggle got the regulator back on, using the plastic sheath supplied by MGRS, which I'd hope would get the brushes in situ when withdrawn. All back together and an optimistic turn of the ignition....battery charging light still on and battery measuring 12 at the terminals with no spike in amps when revved high.

I'm a bit baffled now so any suggestions before it goes into garage very gratefully accepted. I'm wondering if the broken brush could have snapped off when I released the plastic sheath (would I get any charge coming back with only one good one?) or whether it is just a loose belt after all.
The brushes feed electricity INTO the alternator to turn the armature into an electric magnet.--( Maximum 6 amps. )

The electricity comes OUT of the fixed field coils and from there to your battery.---( maximum around 100 amps. )

If no electricity goes into the armature through BOTH brushes then no electricity comes out. The wires to BOTH brushes must be intact.----

Last edited by COLVERT; 20th March 2017 at 21:52..
COLVERT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2017, 21:44   #28
Stickman
Posted a thing or two
 
Stickman's Avatar
 
Rover 75 saloon

Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Bordon
Posts: 1,856
Thanks: 250
Thanked 403 Times in 352 Posts
Default

Time to check out the wiring loom where it crosses the chassis me thinks buddy
Regards
Chris
Stickman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2017, 23:19   #29
boink
Avid contributor
 
Rover 75 Tourer

Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Stone
Posts: 149
Thanks: 88
Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Default

I'm going to take the regulator off and check my soldered brush is intact. Because it jumped back to life on a couple of short runs after a tap with broom handle last week, I was pretty sure the issue had to be in the alternator itself. Given the brushes were so short on inspection I was convinced they must be the cause.

How long a job to get to the loom Trikey?
boink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2017, 20:47   #30
COLVERT
This is my second home
 
R75 Saloon.

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: France/or Devon.
Posts: 14,003
Thanks: 3,851
Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by boink View Post
I'm going to take the regulator off and check my soldered brush is intact. Because it jumped back to life on a couple of short runs after a tap with broom handle last week, I was pretty sure the issue had to be in the alternator itself. Given the brushes were so short on inspection I was convinced they must be the cause.

How long a job to get to the loom Trikey?
If you want to contact TRIKEY it's possibly best to PM him.---(private message. )
COLVERT is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 07:49.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © 2006-2023, The Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club Ltd