Weird - ignition lights whilst driving!

[catweazle]

Hi,

Got a strange one. Have a 2.4TD 1992 Surf that drives great. Today I have been doing lots of trips to and from the dump with a small unbraked trailer full of earth (digging out front garden!). The weather has been hot but the truck has been fine. No overheating or anything, Then on the last two trips, when the car was idling, the dashboard lights came on exactly like they do when you switch the ignition on, even the buzzer for the relay comes on. If you rev the engine, they all go off again just as they would when you start the engine. They then come on again when the revs drop back to the normal idle level (approx 800).
Never had this before.
Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any help. :-)

[BUSHWHACKER]

Alternator problems.
Check the tension of the belts first.

[GRASSMAN]

Hi there,

alternator, belts, or both, belts first!!!

Gman.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Hi there,

alternator, belts, or both, belts first!!!

Gman.

Thanks for the endorsement!

[danielsprague]

If it's not a belt problem, then it's probably your alternator brushes.

On most models you can get the brush holder out without even removing the alternator, then with a soldering iron replace the brushes, clean the slip ring on the alternator shaft with some emery and put it all back together.

Daniel

[catweazle]

Thank you all for your thoughts,
I have had a quick look and belt seems ok, I may replace it to make sure though. I haven't got round to sticking a meter on it but from the dash it appears to be charging o.k The alternator was a second hand replacement from a few months ago so I guess the problem could indeed be there. Are there any other possibilites I could look at or should I focus on the alternator being the likely cause?
Are the brushes easy to obtain.
Thanks

[GRASSMAN]

Hi There,

One thing worries me, the word BELT, there should be
TWO alternator belts on a 2.4 not one. they supply charge
and vacuum to the brake servo, if the one belt snaps you
have no charge, and no servo assist on the brakes (both
feet to stop it in a hurry).
BTW charge voltage is around 14.2 v.

Hope this helps some more.

Gman.

[catweazle]

Hi There,

One thing worries me, the word BELT, there should be
TWO alternator belts on a 2.4 not one. they supply charge
and vacuum to the brake servo, if the one belt snaps you
have no charge, and no servo assist on the brakes (both
feet to stop it in a hurry).
BTW charge voltage is around 14.2 v.

Hope this helps some more.

Gman.

Good point GRASSMAN about the two belts, I will be sure to check both. I have had a taste of the brake assist from the servo being inoperative after leaving one of the vaccum hoses off after replacing the alternator. Thanks also for the voltage specs.
I have ordered a new set of brushes now (Toyota £15ish) so i will change those and the belts at the weekend and report back.

[catweazle]

Hi all,
Just a bit of an update. I changed the brushes but they made no difference so ended up using a replacement alternator and all seems to be well again.
Thanks again to all those who posted,much appreciated.

[plumb bob]

Hi all,
Just a bit of an update. I changed the brushes but they made no difference so ended up using a replacement alternator and all seems to be well again.
Thanks again to all those who posted,much appreciated.

Hey, I had the same thing acouple of years back, and it was the diodes (or sommat ) in the alternator,and a rebuild wasn't possible, so I had to get a new alternator, the cheapest I found was from Toyota.........yes, Toyota, although mne is an old model, with the mechanical fuel pump, and the wooden spoked wheels......

glad you got it sorted...