Berlingo electrical problems

[Eddie78]

Hi I have a Berlingo 2.0 HDI m49 (mk1)

Its been a pain since the day I got it (mainly due to past owners bad repair)

The latest issue is charging or more to the point the lack off.

key in ignition on batt/alt light on, start her up batt/alt light goes out and alt charging at 14.2 at tickover headlights on, after a few mins stops charging batt/alt light remains off, batt voltage will continue to decline, switch engine off and restart straight away and alt will charge again for a few mins. rinse and repeat as many times as you like.

all connections on alt and batt cleaned and tight new belt fitted as old one was slipping.

The other thing the van does don't know if its right or not but the heater blower only works if the engine is running every car I have owned the heater blower will run on ignition position not needing the engine running.

I would of thought either the alt works or not

[GiveMeABreak]

Most PSA cars won't run heaters / blowers with ignition on only. Many of the models have 'Economy' Mode - a managed system to stop the battery getting depleted. Times can vary but never more than 30 mins max - and that is just for accessory items like the interior lights / radio etc. The vehicle will then need to be run and it will give you something like half the time the engine has been running since the last stop up to the 30 min max limit.

[myglaren]

Just a WAG but the voltage problem sounds like the voltage regulator cutting out and not back in again.

Blower not working until engine is running is normal on lots of PSA vehicles - the blower can drag the battery voltage down far enough to inhibit starting.

Damnit, beaten to it again

[Eddie78]

Well at least I know the heater blower is out of the mix.


I was thinking regulator/brushes but the thing that is throwing me is when it stops charging you switch of restart straight away it charges so nothing is getting a chance to cool etc....

The only thing I havent checked yet is the small wire for the warning light to see if there is 12v with ignition on only

the alt warning light comes on with ignition and goes out engine running when alt has stopped charging the light is out

[myglaren]

I wonder then if the indicator light is faulty.
It is essential on most charging circuits.
I recall a problem with a Scorpio that wasn't charging - blown indicator bulb. £180 to fix at the dealers. This was in the late eighties/early nineties.

[Eddie78]

The telltale light is just a LED so there will be a resistor somewhere to provide voltage to excite the Alt.
I will check the van tomorrow to see if there is 12v at the wire, and I will jump 12v on the alt to excite it. I know it will probs be a faultly alt but never seen behave like this one

[Eddie78]

Well it was the Alternator never seen one behave like that, just seemed strange when it would charge for 2 mins then stop, then when you do a power cycle it would reset as it were and charge again for 2 mins etc... it is now sporting a 150amp unit 14.1 volts on tickover with lights on, 14.25 volts fast idle

[Peter.N.]

Probably a semiconductor failure in the regulator, you can just change the regulators on most alternators.

Peter

[wheeler]

The other thing the van does don't know if its right or not but the heater blower only works if the engine is running every car I have owned the heater blower will run on ignition position not needing the engine running.

This is a great thing & I don't understand why all manufacturers don't do this. Why on earth you would run a heater blower without the engine running I don't know. It will flatten a battery very quickly, The A/C wont work & the heat will be gone in a couple of minutes as the water pump is not circulating the coolant.

[Peter.N.]

I would agree, very sensible arrangement really, like the electric auxiliary heater that PSA vehicles have so you get heat before the engine warms up.

Peter

[Eddie78]

Probably a semiconductor failure in the regulator, you can just change the regulators on most alternators.

Peter

Out of interest I pulled the old alternator apart and the slip rings were very badly worn virtually no material left same as the brushes.

[Peter.N.]

That will be it then

Peter