Member Since: 07 Oct 2013
Location: The wilderness
Posts: 205
Battery or alternator problems?
Hi!
I have this (among others) faultcode coming up several times:
B1A87 Battery Disconnected/Electronic Control Unit Reset
In addition, I have experienced that the clock and the computer reset suddenly when driving. Yesterday I also noticed the computer display flickering. When thinking back, this happened just after I started to drive, and the flickering stopped when driving a while.
I hooked up the Nanocom while driving and the voltage was stabile at around 13.8 - 14.2, mostly stabile at 13.8. I put the Nanocom easy in my view and tried to see any pattern on the voltage when the flickering started. I belive that when the flickering started, the voltage was rising in those moments..
When I hooked up the Nanocom today, the idle voltage was (if I remember correct) 12.3 before cranking the engine. When I started - it boosted up to around 15.0 - 15.2. Did not take the car for a drive today, so just stopped the engine again.
Checked my servicebook, and I have receipt that the alternator was replaced 4 years ago (2010) when the car had 167 000km on it. This was a LR genuine alternator. The battery was changed in 2012 to a new Varta Silver. From the batteryindicator, this is still green and saying it is charging normally.
The car has now 239 000km.
Could the alternator give in after 70 000km and 4 years?
There are no other issues while driving the car (except from a EPB fault).
What you guys think? I cant see that there are any sumptoms saying that the alternator now is faulty.. How long does these last?
10th Aug 2014 2:14 pm
mohnwalk
Member Since: 07 Oct 2013
Location: The wilderness
Posts: 205
Hi,
Anyone have any ideas about this:)?
Have driven the car a couple of days now, and now flickering in the display. But are the voltage ok?
15th Aug 2014 1:10 pm
cmb6s
Member Since: 06 Sep 2013
Location: Herndon, VA
Posts: 73
First thing I would check is your negative (grounding) battery cable. There seems to be a corrosion issue with some of them where the inside of the cable actually begins to corrode. May be little to no visual evidence at first until you take it off and start playing with it. Maybe do a resistance check with a multimeter and see what you come up with.
15th Aug 2014 1:44 pm
Discogaz
Member Since: 17 Mar 2014
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 1399
Looks like the rectifying/regulating side of the alternator has or is breaking down, hence overcharging to 15v +. As far as I am aware, it should not go above 14.2 volts.
Certainly looks like the alternator may be failing but have you checked all the earths as this could cause similar synptoms and also the overcharging.
15th Aug 2014 2:02 pm
Discogaz
Member Since: 17 Mar 2014
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 1399
Great minds !!!
15th Aug 2014 2:03 pm
LHD
Member Since: 05 Apr 2006
Location: Lugano area
Posts: 689
Your battery could be like mine where the -ve connector rotted off.
Symptoms I had:
Satnav rebooting when starting car
Car not recharging gadgets from cigar power
HDC disabled message on start
Member Since: 07 Oct 2013
Location: The wilderness
Posts: 205
cmb6s wrote:
First thing I would check is your negative (grounding) battery cable. There seems to be a corrosion issue with some of them where the inside of the cable actually begins to corrode. May be little to no visual evidence at first until you take it off and start playing with it. Maybe do a resistance check with a multimeter and see what you come up with.
You are spot on, mr:)!
The negative battery cable was corroded. Dont know if this is causing the issue, but it might as well be. Will clean it up and see if it comes back.
Since I posted this thread, this probem have not occurred again. And I have driven alot of kilometeres afther this incident. No flickering in display. Nothing.
I have been doing some flashing with my Nanocom Evolution. Could it be that this have drained my battery and now its recharged again after driving some long distances? I dont know. Will keep the car under extra monitoring to see if something happens again.
So far so good, but will clean my negative battery cable anyways !
21st Aug 2014 10:03 pm
mohnwalk
Member Since: 07 Oct 2013
Location: The wilderness
Posts: 205
Discogaz wrote:
Looks like the rectifying/regulating side of the alternator has or is breaking down, hence overcharging to 15v +. As far as I am aware, it should not go above 14.2 volts.
Certainly looks like the alternator may be failing but have you checked all the earths as this could cause similar synptoms and also the overcharging.
This could also be causing this problem. Specially that overcharging to 15V i noticed when the display started flickering. Not checked all the earths. Will do this meanwhile cleaning the negative battery cable.
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