Alternator/Battery mystery?

Greetings,

Realize that it is generally hard to guess electrical problems via the written word but here goes.

Two questions.

When i start the old girl (97 GQ TD42 Coil Cab) i hear a click every 5 sec's from somewhere in the engine bay. You can hear it from the cab but not from next to the motor (too loud). Looking at the volt meter it drops from 13.5 volts down to 12 volts but on a regular cycle. After somewhere from 30 sec's to a minute everything stabilizes out and the voltage sits on 13.5 there abouts (gauge on dash) and no more voltage drop.

Had a read through threads and did the checking thing and alternator is putting out 14.3 volts so think i can disregard that as problem?

Sealed battery with indicator green so should be OK, voltage of battery this morning before starting was 12.6.

My second question concerns the alternator. Reading through past treads all mention the TD 42 motor as having the vacuum pump on rear of alternator. Unless I'm badly mistaken there is not one there. Is this something to be concerned at or is it in a different place?:confused:

Regards,

Neil

Hay mate. What your hearing will be the glow plug system cycling. It does this until the engine reaches a certain temp.
So totally normal.

And for the vac pump.
It should be there, Its a tiny think, 60mm diameter and 35-40 thick.
Your clutch and brakes should be vacume assisted, so just follow the black hose lines from there.

Also pay no attention to those battery markers. If your battery is losing power when disconected then it's in its way out..

Neil,
the "clicking" will be the Glow Plug Relay and or the relay for your battery, when you first start it up.
mine does the same if the stereo isnt up to loud

as for your vacuum pump - sorry, cannot help there, as I have a GU

cheers

Thanks for this.

For all the new Patrol owners arriving on the forum i will be here to ask the dumb questions:biggrin:

no dumb questions here buddy