Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club UK™

[fintious]

Hi all, noticed the battery light on the dash intermittently flashing on and off briefly yesterday and then on the way to work this morning it stayed in for about a minute before going off. Is this an indication of anything in particular - alternator maybe?
_________________
3.0 V6, Auto. 2005

[Google]

[Lewis]

Potentially a diode in the alternator rectifier is on its way out.
_________________


Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[andyman]

If it is flashing randomly, regardless of revs, it is most likely worn or/and sticking brushes. If the light gets dimmer and out at higher revs, but comes back on at lower revs, then it is, as Lewis says, likely that a a voltage regulator diode is failing/has failed. There are three of them in the alternator but you are on borrowed time. Unless it's just a slack belt!
_________________
Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[fintious]

Thanks for the replies chaps. Yesterday it was very faintly flickering for maybe 20 to 30 seconds. Will keep an eye on it👍
_________________
3.0 V6, Auto. 2005

[andyman]

If it's the diodes/voltage regulator, you may find your battery starts going flat if left for a day or two, but produce a good charge while running. Diodes act like a one-way valve and should prevent battery charge leaking back to earth when the alternator stops turning. Do you have a voltmeter to show what output your alternator is producing/ what charge your battery has stored? If it's the brushes, you will likely find that it is charging intermittently. I once had a car that needed its alternator sorting. It would maintain sufficient charge while running around on bumpy country lanes, but finally let me down in bank holiday traffic on a long, smooth motorway journey. The spring pressure on the worn brushes had got so weak that they needed a regular jolt to maintain contact with the commutator!
_________________
Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!