T6 not charging

[IrishT6]

Morning all

A little help needed, van has stopped charging!!! Have replaced alternator and changed battery and still the same.

I’ve read about a break in the limbus wire from battery module to alternator, has anyone had this and any pics or location as best place to start checking for break?!!??



Thanks

 

[Vedubber]

if you have a single wire plug coming out of the alternator this is the linbus wire.

The most common place to break is in the loom around the area of the oil filter area. Sometimes it’s easier to just run a new wire to the plug on the battery from the alternator.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Not sure if that's the right link but the rotted out linbus green/yellow cable in the corrugated conduit along the underside of the bumper was exactly the fault on our 2017 T6.

 

[IrishT6]

if you have a single wire plug coming out of the alternator this is the linbus wire.

The most common place to break is in the loom around the area of the oil filter area. Sometimes it’s easier to just run a new wire to the plug on the battery from the alternator.

Cheers for that buddy, but if that wire was broke would I not get a no communication fault?
I’m in the middle of checking the continuity of thay

 

[Stay Frosty]

When ours played up the Stop/Start had stopped working where the starter battery wasn't getting enough juice I guess but as an indicator there was no light on dash or message on the MFD, same deal with when the Moll starter battery died and no warning just Stop/Start not working.

 

[Vedubber]

Cheers for that buddy, but if that wire was broke would I not get a no communication fault?
I’m in the middle of checking the continuity of thay

That’s a good point. Yes you would get an error code along the lines of linbus communication open circuit.

There is also the possibility that the negative terminal that monitors the battery can also die. My stop start never worked when I got the van, but was getting zero error codes, I changed the negative unit and everything was fixed after that.

 

[IrishT6]

hi, ok so checked the limbus wire and it’s perfect ZERO resistance!!
I’m now thinking faulty new alternator, gonna bring my original alternator with new regulator (currently fitted) along with new alternator that was fitted 2 months ago in for bench testing tomorrow and go from there

 

[manfrotto]

Is your van factory standard, or does it have additional items wiried in - Leisure battery etc?

Also, is it a "smart" alternator or standard Alternator?

 

[IrishT6]

Hi pal, nope standard all the way and unfortunately has a smart alternator!!!
Someone mentioned fuses, but surely it wouldn’t charge at all then?

 

[manfrotto]

So, does it charge sometimes and not others?

 

[IrishT6]

Up until Saturday yes, but then even then it try’s to but then voltage drops again (whilst idling)
Van actually cut out on me on the motorway on sat which it has never done before but started back up 45 mins later
Only fitted a brand new alternator back in march, but it started acting up about 3 weeks ago, last weekend put original alt ack in with new reg pack and all seemed fine until yesterday……..

 

[manfrotto]

So it sounds like an intermiient issue, but NOT the alternator itself. Maybe a bad earth, or the LINbus wire was working when you tested it but is still failing intermittently?

As a smart alternator you won't see it charging all the time, and the voltage dropping at idle is normal if the battery is charged, You will need to load up the electrical system - lights, heater etc to make the alternator start charging again.

If the engine cut out on the motorway, what made you tink it was alternator related?

Do you have a scam tool to check for fault codes? especially if it reports a fault with a date stamp when the engine cut out

 

[Jarvie.I]

i had sane, came up as error code on catista unit, turned out it was as suggested here in forum, corroded wire in the loom around front oil golter / bumper area. Mine also had failed Start/Stop. Garage said the loom wires rub inside the corrugated hose so whatever wire is against the ribs eventualy rubscthru with vibration etc. New wire run and all good. Good luck bud.

 

[IrishT6]

So it sounds like an intermiient issue, but NOT the alternator itself. Maybe a bad earth, or the LINbus wire was working when you tested it but is still failing intermittently?

As a smart alternator you won't see it charging all the time, and the voltage dropping at idle is normal if the battery is charged, You will need to load up the electrical system - lights, heater etc to make the alternator start charging again.

If the engine cut out on the motorway, what made you tink it was alternator related?

Do you have a scam tool to check for fault codes? especially if it reports a fault with a date stamp when the engine cut out

No I didn’t think alternator caused it to stop, I’ve had an random crankshaft sensor fault and presumed it was coming on due to the low voltage, the van then cut out while driving,it started 45 mins later and it was only THEN the battery light came on and it started dropping below 12 volts prior to that it would perform properly as in charge when breaking and coasting or under load but battery voltage was constantly only around 12.1/12.2

 

[IrishT6]

i had sane, came up as error code on catista unit, turned out it was as suggested here in forum, corroded wire in the loom around front oil golter / bumper area. Mine also had failed Start/Stop. Garage said the loom wires rub inside the corrugated hose so whatever wire is against the ribs eventualy rubscthru with vibration etc. New wire run and all good. Good luck bud.

Hey lad, no I stripped that conduit back yesterday and inspected and then did continuity test and that was fine potentially could it be the battery monitor sensor?