Technical Charging problem

[Taveri]

Hi all my LHD 1999 Ducato 2.8 id TD Rapido motorhome has a charging problem to the starter battery. Every thing was fine until I replaced the terminals on the rear lamps. I noticed that the cheapo voltmeter I keep plugged into the cig socket was only reading 12.2 volts regardless of engine speed. So I used my quality meter across the battery same reading as the cheapo meter.
I checked all fuses and cables I had the alternator tested at an automotive repair shop and they said it was fine.
I don't have an owners handbook or a workshop manual and have never been able to buy one in spite of hours spent looking online so I have no information at all. Does anyone know if there are any fuses or relays in the charging circuit behind the lower dashboard panel?


Any help greatly appreciated


Frank

 

[digger58]

I spent 3 Hrs tracing the charging circuit for the fridge on my Rapido 2001. I eventually found an in line fuse on the live feed from the alternator to the fridge. This was hidden UNDER the fuses in the glove compartment. I had to unscrew the fuse board and pull it out to find the inline fuses. No mention of anything in the manual that came with the Rapido, I discovered 3 red wires heading back along to the distribution board from the original Fiat fuses, No ID on any of them. The wiring on these is a nightmare, I was even at it yesterday, a lot of 3 core household cabling around and no slack in it anywhere. I too spent ages trying to get a wiring diagram but no luck.

 

[Crossingkeeper]

Is the alternator warning light in the dash lit when the engines running?

It's just that I remember something about that if this bulb fuses the alternator doesn't get 'excited' and doesn't generate.

If it's not the bulb and the alternator is definitely ok then it is likely to be a disconnection somewhere in the thin wire (terminal D+?) that goes to the alternator. (I believe there should be battery voltage in this when the engine is running so it's something else you can check with your voltmeter)

 

[Taveri]

Thanks Crossingkeeper for your suggestion about replacing blown instrument panel bulbs I replaced two bulbs and lo and behold I started engine and it
is now charging OK


Thanks again
Frank