Technical 09 3.0 JTD Motorhome Charging problem

[petetxvhurch]

Start up engine from cold, battery light on. Switch off and restart, battery light goes off. After that no problems until van left a few hours and then problem repeats itself. Is it likely to be an alternator issue or something more ominous?

 

[Communicator]

Only a few components can be more ominous than a failing alternator. Not particularly cheap, or easy to change, and may bring you to a halt at the most inconvenient time or place.

Have you checked the engine block earthing strap? These straps can corrode internally on the x250 and later models, and cause several misleading alarms.
To eliminate the earth, if a jump lead is available, connect it between the engine block (e.g. lifting lug) and a clean chassis earth point

Also measure voltage directly across starter battery terminals with the engine running. It should be in the range 14.0 to 14.4V.

For more about earth strap problems, a forum or wider search should produce some resulrts.

I am attaching an eLearn printout relating to the starting and charging circuits for the x250 model. This was probably originally posted by either @Anthony489 or @rayc.

 

[Wiff2110]

Only a few components can be more ominous than a failing alternator. Not particularly cheap, or easy to change, and may bring you to a halt at the most inconvenient time or place.

Have you checked the engine block earthing strap? These straps can corrode internally on the x250 and later models, and cause several misleading alarms.
To eliminate the earth, if a jump lead is available, connect it between the engine block (e.g. lifting lug) and a clean chassis earth point

Also measure voltage directly across starter battery terminals with the engine running. It should be in the range 14.0 to 14.4V.

For more about earth strap problems, a forum or wider search should produce some resulrts.

I am attaching an eLearn printout relating to the starting and charging circuits for the x250 model. This was probably originally posted by either @Anthony489 or @rayc.

Hi, do you have any experience on fitting a battery master so that I can charge both batteries from the EHU?

 

[theoneandonly]

@Wiff2110 A battery master is typicaly used to take charge from Lesuire to starter batteries. The precise advise will depend on a number of factors, Lesuire battery Pb or Lithium Alternator Std or smart (age and Manufacturer of base an alternative). Once you have this info start a new thread so as not to confuse OP answers