batteries/altenator problem on 7 1/2 ton tipper?

tipptom

lads,got an avia 7 1/2 ton tipper,got two batteries for it nearly a year ago,i have to jump start it every morning now,put leads on one of the batteries from the car and it starts at one turn, but even when i drive it for a few hours and turn it of it will only click so have to put leads on again.Have taken of leads overnight but it will not start in morning.Sidelights have been out for a while and one of the back brakelights keeps blowing which i need to tend to and am wondering if its related to altenator/batteries.Does anyone have ideas and as cheap a way of identifying the problem because elictrical engineers frighten me a bit.

jimmyw

The alternator needs to be checked to see if its charging.It can be checked with a multimeter.Seeing that she will turn over and start sometimes means that the starter and solenoid must be ok.When it also does not start after you reconnect the leads would suggest that its not a drain either.Is there a battery warning light that comes on and either stays on on goes out as normal.The other components that are not working might be just a short or bad connection.Usually if a light keeps blowing it points to an overcharging problem.

tipptom

jimmyw wrote: »

The alternator needs to be checked to see if its charging.It can be checked with a multimeter.Seeing that she will turn over and start sometimes means that the starter and solenoid must be ok.When it also does not start after you reconnect the leads would suggest that its not a drain either.Is there a battery warning light that comes on and either stays on on goes out as normal.The other components that are not working might be just a short or bad connection.Usually if a light keeps blowing it points to an overcharging problem.

Thanks for the reply jimmy,there is no battery light coming on but sometimes there is an orange light comes on with a triangle which says in the manuel to basically check for problems,so if i get someone to check the altenator with a multimeter and he says thats ok i should nearly be ok to chance a new pair of batteries?.

jimmyw

I assume there is meant to be a batt warning light.If there is but the bulb is gone, then this will stop the alternator from charging.Maybe the batteries could be ok but just need a good charge up.

tipptom

jimmyw wrote: »

I assume there is meant to be a batt warning light.If there is but the bulb is gone, then this will stop the alternator from charging.Maybe the batteries could be ok but just need a good charge up.

Yea,i thought that a good days driving would have charged them up,the lorry sat up for a couple of months around christmas during the bad weather.

jimmyw

Not if the alternator is not charging.

tipptom

jimmyw wrote: »

Not if the alternator is not charging.

Will get that multimetre test done on it and will keep you posted,what soet of money are you talking about if it was the altenator on that?.

Solnskaya

Could be the batteries are shagged, newer type batteries "die" very rapidly compared to those of a few years ago. Could also be the alternator needs doing up, but (and a little sneaky feeling in me waters tells me) it could also be a bad engine-body earth and that is what I would be checking first. Remove and clean the earth strap connections and even run a secondary earth from a starter bolt to a chassis bolt. Might work the wonders.

tipptom

Solnskaya wrote: »

Could be the batteries are shagged, newer type batteries "die" very rapidly compared to those of a few years ago. Could also be the alternator needs doing up, but (and a little sneaky feeling in me waters tells me) it could also be a bad engine-body earth and that is what I would be checking first. Remove and clean the earth strap connections and even run a secondary earth from a starter bolt to a chassis bolt. Might work the wonders.

Thanks Solnskaya,will try that,i think there is something like that going on to.

tipptom

There was a wire coming of the altenator on to the top of the engine block that was broken,looked kind of a small warning light wire,could not be sure.Could this have had any effect on my starting problems,havnt taken out for a good drive yet,things are slow.

jimmyw

jimmyw wrote: »

I assume there is meant to be a batt warning light.If there is but the bulb is gone, then this will stop the alternator from charging.Maybe the batteries could be ok but just need a good charge up.

Could have been the wire to the light that I referred to earlier.Was it a thin wire that goes to the terminal on the alternator marked "IND".Or had you the Battery light coming on all along when you tried to start her?

tipptom

jimmyw wrote: »

Could have been the wire to the light that I referred to earlier.Was it a thin wire that goes to the terminal on the alternator marked "IND".Or had you the Battery light coming on all along when you tried to start her?

No,no battery light coming on and needs to be jumped,have cab back down now,its a bitch to jack up as the bumper has to be taken of and the pump unit with bar for jacking it up is perished and flaking away.

tipptom

Ok,battery light wasnt coming on,so opened up the dash with a fair smattereing of swearing to find that it is some type of led light,so a friend of mine phoned a fella who does altenators who told me to bring it in as he thought the brushes in it might be gone even though the multimetre was showing a full charge.He sent it back as there was nothing wrong with it.So went back to the fella that sold me the batteries and he reluctantly took one of the batteries that is down and gave me a small spare one to keep me going while he charges the other for 48 hrs to see am i trying some sort of a fast one with him as he was muttering about lads taking back batteries for nothing,i wouldnt mind but i know him well.The lorry started yesterday morning first turn with the small spare battery but there is still no battery light.

DirtyDiesels

what about the relay for the alternator..might be nackered or just needed the terminals cleaned. happened my yoke a while back.

DD

tipptom

DirtyDiesels wrote: »

what about the relay for the alternator..might be nackered or just needed the terminals cleaned. happened my yoke a while back.

DD

I think now that its starting to hell with it i will just leave it.im not even sure now if the battery light has worked since i had it.