2H electrical weirdness

[kavandje]

New member here; howdy, y'all. I'm hoping to encounter some familiar people from my LCML days.

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on some electrical weirdness.

The engine: 12v 2H, installed in a Namibian-built Uri Buffalo utility truck.

The symptoms:
* Engine off.
* When the battery is connected, a black box (picture attached) clicks and the charge indicator light comes on.
* When the key is turned, the charge indicator light goes off, the oil pressure light comes on.
* No glow relay, no starter. Engine remains off.

Any thoughts?

The box in question is labelled 'New Era' – I'll post a picture as soon as I figure out how.

 

[lostmarbles]

New member here; howdy, y'all. I'm hoping to encounter some familiar people from my LCML days.

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on some electrical weirdness.

The engine: 12v 2H, installed in a Namibian-built Uri Buffalo utility truck.

The symptoms:
* Engine off.
* When the battery is connected, a black box (picture attached) clicks and the charge indicator light comes on.
* When the key is turned, the charge indicator light goes off, the oil pressure light comes on.
* No glow relay, no starter. Engine remains off.

Any thoughts?

The box in question is labelled 'New Era' – I'll post a picture as soon as I figure out how.

Hi there Kavandje.

Well that black box is definitely your Voltage Regulator..

I'm not surprised you have electrical problems judging from all that debris sitting on and around your vehicle.

Has this vehicle been left in bush for a decade and now you're trying to get it going?

It certainly looks thoroughly neglected!

If so, the first task for me would be to give it a big clean, change all fluids and filters, remove rats nests, replace chewed wiring, ensure it's getting clean fuel, try starting it, and only once it's running would I worry about minor details like abnormal charge light behaviour.

 

[Tapage]

External Voltage regulator box on the drivers side fender ( LHD )

Seen some non factory wires attached to the bolts .. ( red / black ) grounds in red cable ? ...

 

[hj 60]

The battery must be perfect and maybe another car with jumper cables next to it?
If starter and glow fail together while being apart systems I suspect bad/wrong battery or bad ground/connection.
Does the edic arm move?
Can you turn the engine in 4/5 th gear? If you stand in front of the car with a good push the engine must move a bit (also to adjust valves)

 

[kavandje]

Thanks all for your responses.

As it happens this isn't an OEM application. Picture of the vehicle:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kavandje/190991661/in/set-72157594201809763

It's what happens if a Namibian farmer with a pipe bender and an arc welder decides that what he really wants is to look like he's crawled off the set of Mad Max. In this case, 2H, H55F, sprung-over 60-series axles. Everything else cobbled together more or less functionally.

And yes, the vehicle's been standing for a couple of years (under a silver oak tree) and I haven't had a chance to clean it yet. Believe me it's not as bad as it looks; Namibia has a pretty good climate for preserving cars. BUT it was doing that before I parked it.

I've come to the conclusion that it's almost certainly a bad ground or corroded connection somewhere, and I suspect it may be in the steering column, possibly even in the ignition switch itself.

There is no EDIC. This vehicle is old-school; there is a rod that connects the diesel pump to a lever in the cabin.

 

[lostmarbles]

The symptoms:
* Engine off.
* When the battery is connected, a black box (picture attached) clicks and the charge indicator light comes on.
* When the key is turned, the charge indicator light goes off, the oil pressure light comes on.
* No glow relay, no starter. Engine remains off.

Any thoughts?

The box in question is labelled 'New Era' – I'll post a picture as soon as I figure out how.

Picture of the vehicle:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kavandje/190991661/in/set-72157594201809763

It's what happens if a Namibian farmer with a pipe bender and an arc welder decides that what he really wants is to look like he's crawled off the set of Mad Max. In this case, 2H, H55F, sprung-over 60-series axles. Everything else cobbled together more or less functionally.

And yes, the vehicle's been standing for a couple of years (under a silver oak tree) and I haven't had a chance to clean it yet. Believe me it's not as bad as it looks; Namibia has a pretty good climate for preserving cars. BUT it was doing that before I parked it.

I've come to the conclusion that it's almost certainly a bad ground or corroded connection somewhere, and I suspect it may be in the steering column, possibly even in the ignition switch itself.

There is no EDIC. This vehicle is old-school; there is a rod that connects the diesel pump to a lever in the cabin.

Nice vehicle there Kavandje:


And I particularly like this shot of the forward-control Landy too:


If the charge light comes on as soon as you connect the battery (and before you even turn the key on) then perhaps one of the diodes in the alternator has failed?

And I thought having the oil light come on when you turn the key on (but before you start the engine to build up oil pressure) would be normal/correct behaviour and not a sign of a fault.