well, I am hoping someone out there has some advice for me!
On cold starts, the alternator does not appear to be charging. The warning lights on the dash all come on, the amp meter is at zero; so headlight s etc are running on the batteries only.
after a few minutes the warning lights go out, the alternator kicks in and everything works fine. sometimes I can cue it to happen by turning my headlights off, or so I like to think.
This isn't the normal draw down at start up where the headlights are low for 30 seconds or so until the alternator catches up.
This lasts for several minutes, the warning lights all come on and the alternator doesn't seem to be charging the batteries- based on the instrument panel amp meter.
If anything, it has been a progression of the normal draw down taking longer and longer to recover until it turned into the alternator warning light/ zero amp issue.
The alternator was switched out with one that works, batteries switched out. The mechanic checked everything a mechanic would check for voltage, etc. Thinks it might be a fuse or did that he can't see and doesn't have the electrical info for the vehicle. anyway, after all the replacing and checking, the problem is still the same.
It doesn't not happen when the engine is warm; I drive for a while, go into the store, come out, and it starts and charges normally. it is just in the AM or after sitting for several hours ( ie: when I go home from work). It is consistent though. It always happens.
Does anyone have any ideas? My landcruiser mechanic is retiring and can't fit me in, so I'm a bit stuck here...
thanks.
On cold starts, the alternator does not appear to be charging. The warning lights on the dash all come on, the amp meter is at zero; so headlight s etc are running on the batteries only.
after a few minutes the warning lights go out, the alternator kicks in and everything works fine. sometimes I can cue it to happen by turning my headlights off, or so I like to think.
This isn't the normal draw down at start up where the headlights are low for 30 seconds or so until the alternator catches up.
This lasts for several minutes, the warning lights all come on and the alternator doesn't seem to be charging the batteries- based on the instrument panel amp meter.
If anything, it has been a progression of the normal draw down taking longer and longer to recover until it turned into the alternator warning light/ zero amp issue.
The alternator was switched out with one that works, batteries switched out. The mechanic checked everything a mechanic would check for voltage, etc. Thinks it might be a fuse or did that he can't see and doesn't have the electrical info for the vehicle. anyway, after all the replacing and checking, the problem is still the same.
It doesn't not happen when the engine is warm; I drive for a while, go into the store, come out, and it starts and charges normally. it is just in the AM or after sitting for several hours ( ie: when I go home from work). It is consistent though. It always happens.
Does anyone have any ideas? My landcruiser mechanic is retiring and can't fit me in, so I'm a bit stuck here...
thanks.