charge and filter lights

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J

Jan-78FJ40

Joined
Sep 6, 2002
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On my 85 BJ70 (12V) the charge and filter light come on below 2000rpm and stay on till over 2400rpm. The charge light relay is new, the water seperator is empty, and the brushes and voltage regulator in the alt are new as well.

is my alternator going out?

thanks
J
 
Here's what I see:
started the truckl in the morning. batteries show ~12V on the (unreliable) factory meter.
charge light, filter light and e-brake light stay on. Lights go out at about 2600rpm, and the needle of the voltmeter jumps up a tiny bit.
lights go back on at 2000rpm.


after driving her a bit, now the lights go off at 2100rpm and come back on at 1600. and the volt meter shows more like 14 V now, clearly higher than in the beginning.

does this mean wnything to anyone? is it the regulator, batteries or the alt? regulator was replaced 2 years ago, toegteher with the brushes.

maybe I can get some more opinions before I start swapping parts.

thanks
J
 
when you did the regulator did you check the brushes? is it any harder to cold start than before? do you get more smoke at cold start?
 
crushers said:
when you did the regulator did you check the brushes? is it any harder to cold start than before? do you get more smoke at cold start?
Click to expand...

Hi Wayne,
it starts perfectly on the first crank of the engine-no smoke.
I took out the brushes yesterday and they are well within limits.
thank you,
Jan
 
I can recall some 60 series owners having this problem and it was the contacts in the gauge unit making the gauges inaccurate.
Diesels dont start without good cranking speed and you have that;)
 
When I go to start one of mine that have pretty dead batteries (from sitting around) all of those lights stay on for a while until the alternater gets them charged up. Just thinking out load, how are the batteries on it (I know it is a long shot). Maybe because if fires up right away you don't notice the batteries going deal.

I am sure you have already checked but are the belts lose, maybe not squeling but lose enough to degrade the performance on the alternator.

I found the Alternater from Blacky, I put it on the bench.

Cheers,

Michael
 
tlcruiserman said:
When I go to start one of mine that have pretty dead batteries (from sitting around) all of those lights stay on for a while until the alternater gets them charged up. Just thinking out load, how are the batteries on it (I know it is a long shot). Maybe because if fires up right away you don't notice the batteries going deal.

I am sure you have already checked but are the belts lose, maybe not squeling but lose enough to degrade the performance on the alternator.

I found the Alternater from Blacky, I put it on the bench.

Cheers,

Michael
Click to expand...

Thank you Michael!
The belts are fine, but I had thought about the batteries. They are old and not in great shape. and since we mostly drive Betsy, the 70 is in the garage a lot, and does not get moved.
Maybe it is good idea to first throw in good batteries.

cheers,
back on Monday,
Jan
 
Jan-78FJ40 said:
Thank you Michael!
The belts are fine, but I had thought about the batteries. They are old and not in great shape. and since we mostly drive Betsy, the 70 is in the garage a lot, and does not get moved.
Maybe it is good idea to first throw in good batteries.

cheers,
back on Monday,
Jan
Click to expand...

I have a newer digital charger that shows how much charge is in the batteries, you should borrow it and put them on the charger and see where they are. I have found if they charge up one day and a day later they are 10% or more down on charge it is probably the batteries. If they are lead acid I wonding if the impact move them around enough to cause to wierd behavior, maybe check the fluid levels as well. If you want the charger it is at my house not the shop.

Cheers,

Michael
 
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