so the alternator.

i noticed on cold mornings if i instantly put both heated seats on and the front/back screen, the heated seats are turned off.

is that a sign of the alternator being on its way out or just standard behaviour? i am close to 180k miles so no issue if i have to replace it.

also would my life be easier if i just took the condenser/radiator/bumper off for access when doing all this work and probably the pulleys too?

cheers Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

Before condeming the alternator I'd be checking the battery. I put mine (2007 tdv8 3.6) on charge every few months and am surprised that it will always take a charge as its driven regularly, but mainly short trips ( I know, I know). Obviously a lot more power usage in the colder months, and it's about now that batteries that are marginal start failing.

I dont have an iid tool so can't say what that might say regarding charging etc, but I guess it would give insight?

Chris

i can take a look at the battery. i did make the mistake of letting it die when i was working on it.

but i took it out, charged it back up and it sat for 2 weeks on bench and didnt drop at all. Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

Sounds more like the battery esp if it's been alowwed to drain to zero - how old is it? A failing alternator should throw fault codes as the charging system is heavily monitored. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

couldnt be more than 2 years old

but the battery starts and runs fine. Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

A failing alternator usually has a couple tell tales signs.

1. You'll get the red battery light coming on intermittently, increasing in occurrence, and will eventually stay on.
2. A whining noise from it.

Easier to rule out the battery as replacing the alternator is "challenging", especially in the winter months.
I know, I did it twice  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

no red battery light at all

i just wanna beat it before it leaves me stranded given its mileage.

ofc today was 10c so no dramas there. Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

Have a look in the secret menu and see what the battery voltage is / what it’s charging at when running.
.(like Alan said, changing the alternator in Winter is not fun. I did mine between Christmas and New Year. At least I couldn’t feel it when skin was removed from my hand at the time…). 2017 Jaguar F Pace 25t Portfolio - still part of the JLR family 😀
2009 3.6 V8 (MY2010) - my first ever diesel! - now also gone
2004 4.4 V8 Petrol Vogue - now gone

am defo planning on waiting for better weather tbh

this is just the planning stage Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

So I plug in my GAP tool and in the left upper side I see 12.2 v on my 12 5.0 L322 which is odd because I have an 09 L322 4.4 and I just did an alternator and the minimum is 13.2 at idle. SO I take the 12 for a drive and I watch as value jumps from 12.2 down to 12.0 in RED and then up to 13.5 and then 14.5 and then down to 13.7 and its not linear at all; Battery Management system or not, I cant see us sitting at 12.2 which we did for five m, then I get on the highway and it jumps to 14.5 and then down to 13.0 were it sits until we get home and it holds 13.0 at idle.
If this were any other car I'd immediately think failing voltage regulator but on this thing I just dont know. Battery is brand new and topped off. No red lights on dash.
But interestingly GAP wasnt happy working or giving me a whole lot of info at this voltage at all. Just parked it in garage.
Has anyone seen anything like these numbers at 90k miles and have an opinion as to regulator or BMS? CHecked GAP against three voltmeters and it was spot on.

Ill even take thoughts...

Dave

09FFRR
12 FFRR

the only thing id say is

the left upper side reading is pretty crap, i wouldnt rely on it.

id use one inside the menus if you are checking Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

Sounds like the rectifier is on its last legs ,same happened to me about the same mileage, bushes and bearings were fine but rectifier had died

davidrosenbloom wrote:

SO I take the 12 for a drive and I watch as value jumps from 12.2 down to 12.0 in RED and then up to 13.5 and then 14.5 and then down to 13.7 and its not linear at all; Battery Management system or not, I cant see us sitting at 12.2 which we did for five m, then I get on the highway and it jumps to 14.5 and then down to 13.0 were it sits until we get home and it holds 13.0 at idle.

Jays probably nailed it ,I got the red non charge light on the dash