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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5747

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Electrical issue & starting issue
I noticed the other day that the wipers appeared to sweep slowly even when in the fast setting, the heater blowers appeared slow as well as did starting.

Tonight, I left work, started the car up and it sounded like it was spinning slower than normal, but still started.
Turned on the amateur radio and this showed a voltage of 11.3v (normally 14.xv, fed off the 2nd battery)
Again wipers and blowers not as quick as normal.

When I got home, got changed and back to the car. Main battery showed 11.7v. Tried starting the car and got drrrr drrrr drrrr from the starter. Hooked up via jump leads to the main battery a 2nd spare battery showing 12.2v and got the same. Tried a 3rd battery and got a bit of a starter turn followed by drrrr drrrr drrrr noise.

Battery terminals are clean and connections/clamps are tight.

The battery is now on charge so will go and try to start the car later on.
Is this a battery issue, starter issue, or alternator issue? The voltage at the starter showed 11.7v as well. 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #451882 3rd Sep 2015 5:43pm
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5747

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Right. Update. 30 mins on charge and it started.

Engine running – volts at battery and at back of alternator 11.2v. Engine off., 11.6v.

Tried restarting and drrr drrr drrr

I have an old starter in the shed, that’s the next swap out or possibly a spare battery 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #451894 3rd Sep 2015 6:33pm
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2201

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
If your voltage is that low with the engine running I suggest its your alternator.

I had a similar problem with ours which turned out to be the alternator terminal loose. tightened it up and back to 14.4v at the battery.

Not sure what twin battery set up you have but get the second battery disconnected. Have had worlds of trouble with a police transit with twin batteries where the aux battery drags the main battery down to less than 12v preventing the starting.

Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
84' 90 3.9 V8 Caged Pickup Build Thread - Now For Sale
Post #451897 3rd Sep 2015 7:00pm
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Romadog



Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Powys
Posts: 1747

Check single energiser wire connector on starter. I had a starting issue only fo the AA man to lift bonnet, pull off wire, then put it back on, asked me to try again and hey presto it started. Just dirty connection, a common problem.
Post #451901 3rd Sep 2015 7:20pm
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5747

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
@rallysteve - Split charge is just a relay rated at 140amps. I removed the trigger wire and still the same. 2nd battery reading higher than main battery.

Tried swapping out to an older starter motor and even worse - so that starter is going in the bin

The nut on the alternator appears tight but will check it tomorrow.

The current starter motor when I removed it was covered in oil

Good job I am off tomorrow ( I should be packing the car ready for recovery duties on a rally, looks like my mate will have to drive instead) 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #451931 3rd Sep 2015 8:02pm
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gazman



Member Since: 17 Aug 2015
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 652

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 Td5 HT Alpine White
My money would be the alternator has died. It should be at least providing 13.5 v to charge the battery.

If the battery has been run really low due to not getting a charge it might be dead too.

I'd get a new alternator and have the battery drop tested to make sure it's ok, if it is fully charge it and out the original starter motor back on.
Post #451944 3rd Sep 2015 8:36pm
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5747

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
The original starter is going back on tomorrow. Got a spare battery on charge in shed just in case I need it.

My money is leaning towards an alternator as well - just seen the price of them!
But it does have the Vac pump, Pas pump as well.

With the blowers being slow, and the wipers, I do wonder if the fuel pump is not running at max pressure as well?
Anyway, alternator first. If I get it started I will take it to a auto spark down the road and see if they can test it for me 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #451953 3rd Sep 2015 8:54pm
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5747

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Looking around for alternators and spotted this line in an advert
"The vacuum pump is what usually fails and leaks oil into the Alternator causing the Alternator to fail"

Is this engine oil ? 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #452055 4th Sep 2015 8:20am
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trooper



Member Since: 11 Mar 2014
Location: west sussex
Posts: 102

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Tamar Blue
Hi
Have you tried the main battery earth connection, to the side of the transfer box, this does cause a simular problem.
Post #452066 4th Sep 2015 8:37am
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5747

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Not yet but I will be this morning. Got a spare battery on charge as well. 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #452069 4th Sep 2015 8:50am
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5747

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Earth's look OK to me. Not tried an earth direct to chassis/engine yet but will do next.
Swapped out the battery with a spare and went back to the original starter motor.
11.7v from the positive feed on the alternator to the alternator casing. Dropping to 11.4/11.5v with blowers & lights on.
Failing that alternator off I think.

Can I run the car with the alternator main positive feed off ? 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #452147 4th Sep 2015 12:19pm
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Alternator charging voltage never drops below 14.2 v on mine. You should be able to run without a serviceable alternator, make sure it's well isolated. Drain on your battery will be next to nothing once the vehicle has been started as long as you do not use any of your electrics, wipers, lights, blowers etc. if your journey involves a stop do not turn the engine off as it will probably not start. If you have a decent spare battery jump the vehicle initially to preserve whatever terminal voltage you may have in your fitted battery. Try it on your drive for 5-10 minutes and check the terminal battery voltage once started and after the duration to check rate of voltage drain if any before setting off. If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!
Post #452151 4th Sep 2015 12:28pm
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5747

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
The charging never dropped past 14.1v on mine until now.

Will running with the alternator connected prove anything useful? There still be battery drain during running for things like fuel pump etc. 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #452155 4th Sep 2015 12:39pm
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Probably on reflection may as well keep it connected. A lower charging voltage is better than none at all even if it doesn't provide enough capacity to start the vehicle. Just don't turn it off underway to wherever you're headed. If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!
Post #452174 4th Sep 2015 1:26pm
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5747

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Might be best.

Just used the Amp setting on the multimeter and between the positive terminal and the positive clamp with the meter set to DC Ma I got a reading of 8.00Ma (and a bit more at times). 8amp draw with all turned off? 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #452176 4th Sep 2015 1:32pm
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