| Author | Message | ||
     Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr. (Jpg2esq) Member Username: Jpg2esq Post Number: 80 Registered: 02-2002 |
Some of you know my dilema with my 95 Disco. I am on my 3rd alternator in 3 months (1st 2 by an ind. rebuild shop, 3rd is a napa rebuild). I took the truck in for service to the independent LR dealer here in South Florida. They told me I need a new alternator (which i already knew) and that they found a battery drain. 3.3 amps with the engine off compared to 700 mili amps normally. The truck is dead a few hours after driving it and I need a jump every morning. In addition to telling me that I need a new exhaust ($2k) and have PS and oil leaks (never seen the oil leak on the floor), they want me to agree to another hour of labor to try to diagnose the drain. Is this a crock? I dont really trust these guys and am tired of replacing alternators. Before I spend any mor emoney, I may just get a brand new stock replacement alternator from Atlantic British for 399. Help! | ||
| Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr. (Jpg2esq) Member Username: Jpg2esq Post Number: 81 Registered: 02-2002 |
Nobody has chimed in..whats the deal? | ||
| Sandy Grice (Apg) New Member Username: Apg Post Number: 19 Registered: 02-2003 |
OK...here's how to find the offending circuit. Buy a 12 volt test lamp and disconnect the battery ground strap. Connect the test lamp between the battery and the cable. With a 3 amp drain, it will burn brightly. Now start disconnecting circuits or fuses. If the light goes out, you have found the culprit. The first thing to try is disconnecting the alternator...it may have a toasted diode. Cheers | ||
| Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr. (Jpg2esq) Member Username: Jpg2esq Post Number: 82 Registered: 02-2002 |
thanks. What do you mean by disconnecting circuits? Where would I do that? | ||
| Roger M (Ciscowiz) Member Username: Ciscowiz Post Number: 78 Registered: 02-2003 |
Put one end of the test light on the loosened neg battery cable and the other on the aactual neg post on the battery. Now start pulling fuses to specific devices. Like Sandy said when the light goes out you found the culprit circuit. possibly you got a diode out somwhere or a transistor shorted or cable is chaffed and rubbing on ground, somthing is providing a path to ground. If you wish not to fix it yourself goto a auto electric shop and at least you will be informed on which circuit is out and they wont screw you as bad as an informed vechicle owner. I checked Autozone and they have a lifetime guarenteed Duralast Alternator for sale for your Rover. AZ replaced 5 lifetime starters for me on a chevy PU I had. Good Luck! Rog Rog | ||
| Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr. (Jpg2esq) Member Username: Jpg2esq Post Number: 83 Registered: 02-2002 |
Any fuses to definitely avoid pulling..abs airbags etc. I have heard that it will most likely be a lighting circuit due to the draw. | ||
| jay michaels (Disco99ii) New Member Username: Disco99ii Post Number: 3 Registered: 07-2003 |
One logical alternator test is the following 2 steps- 1)start the car 2) disconnect one of the battery terminals-- A)If the car "dies"-you need an alternator B) if it doesn't-you may have a short somewhere draining your battery- Hope that helps- | ||
| Chris Brennan (Cdmbrennan) Member Username: Cdmbrennan Post Number: 63 Registered: 01-2003 |
Great...all the information I needed to know two days AFTER I've left it at the dealer... ;) this is all good info | ||
| Jason Edward Booth Barnes Blood (Onejasonblood) New Member Username: Onejasonblood Post Number: 15 Registered: 08-2003 |
jorge do you mean the guys on 79th street and do you have a d1 with a need for new auxiliary condensor fans? I think that I met you there while getting mine diagnosed.....let me know | ||
| Joe Still (Joedisco) Member Username: Joedisco Post Number: 98 Registered: 09-2002 |
Buy a new in the box LR alternator. I went crazy chasing 3 amp drain. It's gonna be the alternator unless you've been hacking in aftermarket electric products. |
