Try and keep this short! Last year begun having probs starting, esp in cold weather. Red 'charging' light on quite often, even when up to speed on main roads. Brake lights 'interaction' failure at MOT, but when got back to engineers to fix, they were ok. Also at test station would not turn over - nothing, no sound, just dead. Tried twice, then turned over and started ok. Following week - same again, not even trying to start. Jump started from friends lorry. Ran ok. No red light. Drove 8 miles or so, stopped for fuel. Couldn't restart. Engineers fiddled with battery leads, started, took to yard. Found battery terminal ?(thing on end of lead which clamps to battery)broken. Replaced.. Ok few times. Then red light on again- not all the time. Back to engineers. Tested alternator cleaned and sprayed wires? (i think thats what he said!)- all ok. Said charging ok - 13.5v which he said is good. But try new battery. Fan belt slightly loose - tightened.Fitted new battery. Started fine few times. No red lights. Then last week - beginning to be diff to start again,(but very very cold weather) and then red light on again for about 15 miles. Then off and on (faintly) on way home! Oh and brake lights very dim, sometimes better than others - don't know if this is all connected in some way? My brother says there is a 'mess' of wires behind the chassis behind where battery is fitted - he queries earth fault but not experienced?Also once when mechanic changing wheel he got a shock off lorry, when not turned on.
Also - ref the last persons question- the air brake pressure warning buzzer always comes on and stays on for up to a minute from turning engine on-(depending how often we use the lorry)and has done for 8 years we have had lorry- no one ever said it is a problem - now am worried my brakes are going to fail!? (Have passed MOT every year)Please help! Am at my wits end- have to trust whoever I take it to, am sure they have all tried their best, but lot of time and money and still same fault.
Thanking you in advance, Angie. (am in Mid Suffolk if anyone can recommend anyone local)

Angie Kowalczyk, February 2009

you should check the cab plugs at the front centre of the cab as these come loose and cause bad electrical connections.
also the fuse box on these are prone to arcing at the contacts you can check this by taking the screw out from te front of it and checking the connections .
as for the rev counter this is taken from what is called the W terminal of the alternator and will probably be a loose connection .

lecky, February 2009

Oh and incidentally the Rev counter doesn't always work properly - sometimes it just does nothing, sometimes it goes crazy, needle goes from one end of gauge to the other, out of control! Don't recall now if it actually ever just does what it should - so used to not looking at it cause it didn't work!
Angie

angie kowalczyk, February 2009

It is a Ford Cargo.
Cab can no longer be tilted as had luton fitted for sleeping when fitted out as a horselorry (before we bought it). Think this is maybe why no one has really got to the root of the problem - because it is very awkward to work on!!!

So seems like I should get a new alternator fitted and go from there?
Would this be linked to the brakes being faint?

(Sorry if I sound thick -I am totally in the dark! I can do the oil and water and tyre pressures etc but thats it!
I do love my lorry tho and couldn't take daughters and ponies showing without it, can't afford new one!!)
Thank you all for your time - I really appreciate it.
Angie

angie kowalczyk, February 2009

is this vehicle an iveco ford or a ford cargo .
this is a very important question in accertaining the fault,i have worked on these trucks for many years but you must know which model first .
ford have multiplugs at centre of cab and tilt cab by pulling lever at side of cab at rear .
if you answer this .i might be able to help.

lecky, February 2009

vauxhall altenater fits

bob, February 2009

Re the alternator testing.
The alternator may be producing an acceptable voltage (the regulated voltage is 13.6 to 14.4 V for the 3 types of Lucas alternator) but it's not voltage that charges the battery! You need a good current as well. Charging the battery is all about building up charge on the plates. Current is the rate of flow of charge - i.e. charge per unit time. So if the alternator is not generating enough current it will undercharge the battery. A full alternator test involves an ammeter as well as a voltmeter!

JD, February 2009

brake pressure buzzer will stay on until there is enough pressure in the air tanks to release the brakes. this is normal. air pressure is used to release the brakes, so if it fails the brakes will stick on, not off, so don't worry.

Del Radley, February 2009

Hi JD
Thankyou for your time - will try and get someone who knows what they are doing to read through what you suggest. But the last engineers said they tested the alternator and it was okay- so could they be mistaken?
Such a minefield because I obviously have to trust what people tell me, as I certainly know no better, but so far no-one has solved the problem! Anyway, at least I have somehting to guide me when I speak to them, so thanks again.
Angie

angie kowalczyk, February 2009

Your poor old CARGO is suffering a lot of symptoms!
(1) Possibly something is draining your battery - a short circuit to earth somewhere. Especially if there is a history of gadgets and extra lights etc being fitted. These are often not wired properly or protected by fuses. Often these extras are removed later but the wiring is left behind. E.g could be wiring which is chafing on some metal part and the insulation has been cut through. No easy way to locate this but you could put an ammeter on the battery line when everything is off and see if there is a current. Could then start removing fuses one at a time to see which circuit is at fault.
(2) Alternator is probably in need of replacement. Has it ever been replaced? Take it off the lorry and bring it to an autoelectrical supplier - i.e. someone who specialises in alternators and starter motors - e.g.a Lucas agent. They will test it for you and either repair it or sell you a new one. Have you got a tachometer (rev counter ) in the cab? Is it working? If not it is an indication that the alternator is u/s as the alternator supplies pulses to operate the tachometer. If alternator is u/s then it won't be charging the battery and this would account for the starting problems.
(3) Re the brake pressure buzzer.
It is normal for this to come on if you are starting the lorry after leaving it idle for a long time. If there is less than a pre-set pressure in the system, the brakes will not operate. When the pressure builds up (say 100 psi), the buzzer stops and the brakes can be released. if you were using the truck every day, this probably would not happen.

JD, February 2009