Alternator woes

[Dream Weaver]

Not really a question but thought I would post it on here if anyone is having similar problems.

Since I picked my car up from Xtreme two weeks ago I have not been 100% happy with the car, nothing really specific - just odd little foibles like changing between fifth and fourth a lot and generally not feeling like its producing the power it should.

Something has been a bit squeaky in the engine bay but as Xtreme had fitted a new auxiluary belt and tensioner I thought it was the new belt settling in.

One thing it did do twice but only for a few seconds, was that when accelerating from around 60MPH that the traction control off light went on and the car appeared to lose power, almost as if it was stalling but only the TC light was on. Only for a very short time and cleared up straight away.

I have been using 99 fuel (and had to fill up with Esso 97 on Monday) so thought this might have something to do with the problem. Also after all the work done in the last few weeks, rebuilt gearbox etc., I was expecting some little faults like these.

Anyway I nipped out yesterday lunchtime and the radio kept cutting out, just as if no power going to it then it would go back on again and a minute or so later do the same again. As the head unit has just been fitted I was mentally cursing the fitter for leaving a loose connection on the wiring.

Yesterday evening when I left work was bright and sunny so opened up the sunroof and put a CD on. Few minutes down the road, off it went again. Then back on and off so switched it off.

Got to my hotel and sat with the engine running for a while (as I always do) but it was ticking over at 1500, traction control off light was on as was the ABS light. Usually when I stop after a shortish (10 minute in this case) easy drive the revs are a bit high (900RPM ish) for a few seconds before dropping back down to 600 or so.

Last night it did not so I closed the sunroof (which seemed to take longer than usual) and switched the engine off. After a minute I tried to restart and all I got was starter motor clicking.

So out comes the AA man who had a good laugh at the standard Mitsu battery (same as fitted to a Micra apparently) and then pulled the terminals. He noticed some white powder on the posts and then tested the battery. Battery was fine so he started it on jump leads and checked the charging. No charge going in at all. With the engine off he tested the voltage back at the alternator and found no drop so the charge feed wires to the battery are OK.

As he is a Shogun owner he was interested in the car and reckoned the alternator is the same as the Shogun. But he could not replace it due to difficulty of access.

Anyway I called Xtreme this morning to get a new alternator fitted and they are currently trying to source one.

But when I mentioned the weird behaviour to Simon he said that Mitsu alternator problems can cause running problems with the car. They have had the same thing with FTO's. It seems that the alternator does more than just charge the battery. This ties in with what the AA man said, about some extra wiring into the alternator and the fact that the ECU controls some of its functions.

So hopefully a new alternator will put it right but I will let you know. This is all just opinion and ideas at the moment so I am not saying this is a cure all for all VR-4 problems but thought I would post it here anyway.

[Nick Mann]

My last VR4 had an alternator replaced. Quadal, who bought it from me had another alternator fitted.

Eventually a loose connection near/under the fuse box in the engine bay was found to be the problem, the alternators had been changed for no reason. The problem when I had the car was just the battery light and then a dead battery. The problem developed into something closer to yours after Alan had the car.

May be worth checking?

[Jimbo]

Interesting reading, I hope the alternator does solve the problems :)



One thing it did do twice but only for a few seconds, was that when accelerating from around 60MPH that the traction control off light went on and the car appeared to lose power, almost as if it was stalling but only the TC light was on. Only for a very short time and cleared up straight away.

I have no first-hand experience of this, but from what I know about TC, this sounds perfectly normal - it probably just lost traction and cut power....was it greasy, damp, etc ?

[bernmc]

On my anxious first drive back home from the SVA, my japcrap battery was as dead as a dead thing on a dead day, and I had similar TC warnings, ABS etc. Seems that these systems shut down if there isn't enough power - may be a good warning signal of bat/charge problems then?

[pezza]

I had similar problems...

With radio cutting out and flashing on and off and starting issues...

I changed battery first and the radio was fine at low volumes but would switch off if pushed. I then swapped the alternator out from my old UK V6 and this cured the problem completely. A pal at mitsu did explain the difference in circuitry and rating on the alternators fitted to the UK cars.

I hope your alternator swap cures your problem - the dash check lights coming on, rev drop radio cutting etc does sound like power issues..

Good Luck!

[Dream Weaver]

Thanks for the fusebox tip.

As the new alternator is £195 plus fitting plus VAT I will ask Xtreme to check it all out.

Now waiting for the AA truck to take it up to Dudley.

I'll let you all know how it pans out.

At least I will have this to pay with at the weekend......... :leer: :leer: :leer: :leer: :leer:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/nige999/evo2/51_3.jpg

[BraindG]

yup, its a battery problem.. im having the same problemo just now.
Stick it on charge over night, oh actually replace it with a heavy duty one if you still got the jap bat.

whats been happening to me is as follows.
You start car, indicators will flash, down the road a bit the car will start to splutter, the abs light comes on, radio switches off and the car just doesn't behave.. after a couple minutes the car will return to normal, and its as if nothing ever happened.

A good sign, and i'd stay in your drive a bit longer if this happens is, when you start the car, and after the indicators have flashed you will notice all the dashboard lights dimming if you press brake, or put car in reverse.. just hang about, and wait for a couple minutes till everything returns to normal, i.e. when theres enough charge running through the car.

[Dream Weaver]

The AA man tested the battery when he had stopped laughing at it.

It was fine, just not getting any charge at all.

It was showing 10 volts at 3000RPM !

Anyway I am going to ask Xtreme to fit a bigger battery, the one I have is 50 amp hours which is pretty pathetic, and it has not been changed since the car arrived from Japan a couple of years ago. No idea low long it was on the car in Japan before it came over.

[BraindG]

not getting charge? so, could be an alt problem then?

the small battery isnt a problem in japan, cos of the climate.. its only an issue when it comes to ours, where its wet, cold miserable, crap, depressing, not nice.. errr. anyways...

[Dream Weaver]

where its wet, cold miserable, crap, depressing, not nice

At least we have Tony Blair to keep us all happy............

[Kieran]

...But when I mentioned the weird behaviour to Simon he said that Mitsu alternator problems can cause running problems with the car. They have had the same thing with FTO's. It seems that the alternator does more than just charge the battery. This ties in with what the AA man said, about some extra wiring into the alternator and the fact that the ECU controls some of its functions. ..

Yes.... I had general weirdness for a few weeks when SOME IDIOT :embarasse :embarasse messed up an installation on their GLS and popped the Alternator's voltage regulator module... They have a 4-pin connector on the body.... I wonder if I can find my old wiring diagrams that tell me what they were.........

[Freddy]

I had the opposite problem with the alternater producing 14 volts. This caused the radio to turn off and on, dash lights coming on and turning off, traction control to stay off and exploding light bulbs. :rolleyes4

[Dream Weaver]

Picked the car up and it is a lot better, no more weird happenings. Still not 100% happy with the gearbox in full auto mode but will check the ATF levels and reset the ECU at the weekend.

If the gearbox continues to be a PITA I may consider importing one from one of the jap spares specialists.

One thing they did do is fit a battery meant for an Evo 7, lot bigger and good fit !

[Physician]

A couple of points ........

As Jimbo suggested, I think you have two seperate issues here.

1] Alternator problem which WILL screw up many of the cars systems as well as having the obvious effect of not charging the battery properly.

2] TCL issue.
You can test this fairly easily. Make sure it is switched ON and then find a nice quiet bit of road and stop. Now try and accelerate from standstill whilst turning fairly sharply (as if possibly going to do a 'U' turn). If the TCL is working correctly you should achieve exactly the symptoms you describe in your post. Now switch TCL 'OFF' and do the same ....... no cut out?

Certainly get Xtreme to check out all systems before the expense of a new alternator. Disconnecting battery to reset ECU is a good idea but you then need to run car for a good 50-100 miles to ensure any change in auto box is evident.

Good luck.

[Dream Weaver]

Alternator was completely fecked.

I stood with the AA man listen to it squeak, rumble and groan for 10 minutes while refusing to provide any charge at all to the battery.

TCL is fine now.

Auto box is a bit lazy.