Alternator ?

[RR]

Hi Muddies,

Can anyone point me in the right direction with an electrical problem?

RR 3.5 EFI 1988 carbs automatic

After a solid dayout at Whaddon winching and being winched my RR died on the way home. No electrical power and a jump start lasted 2 miles before the engine dies.

The beast has two batteries. From Cold one has 11V and the other 0.5V
I jump start the engine without any problems
The fuel pump is clicking away (as usual)
After 5 mins idling (the dashboard light of a "fan with a housing" lights for 2 mins then goes off) the fuel pump stops clicking the engine coughs and dies; the batteries are at 6 V each.
Is my problem with the alternator????

Unfortunately I have little access to a garage or tools. Does anyone know of an Off road friendly mecahnic in the Maidenhead area??    
 
Any pointers much appreciated

R&R :roll:

[muddysteve]

might be just one of your batteries is FUBAR

prolly the one with 0.5v  


Steve

[Range Rover Blues]

Here's the poor man's diagnostic.  get it running then swithc on the headlights.  rev the engine, do the lights get brighter?

Disconnect the 0.5 volt battery and try it then.

If you have a voltmmeter, what does it read with the engine running? idle and abaout 2,000rpm?

[RR]

The plot thickens,

Both Batteries show 6V from cold, car wont start. I jump start the car no problem. Both baterries read around 12V while engine is running (alternator working I supose). After 5 mins the baterry voltages drop on both to around 6V , the fuel pump stops and the engine dies.

Any ideas :idea:

[Range Rover Blues]

I think not.  Both batteries are 6v, is this because you stil had them connected in parallel?

12volts with engine running, probably due to the jump-start, if the alternator were working that would be 13volts.

You could try a new battery and see how long it lasts, but I think you need a new alternator.