[gonebushSA]

we have a GQ patrol, with the 4.2 lpg/gas auto, our first altentor was putting out to much current and burntout parts of the electrical system with a power serge, then our second altenator was fine until all of a sudden it was reading too low, so now we are on our third altenator our problem is the altenator gauge moves around, sometimes it stays put, but when revs are low (normal idle speed) it drops down to 12 volts, but if the revs are higher it picks up to a normal reading, and sometimes while driving along the gauge will read normal and all of a sudden will read up to nearly 16volts for a while then back to normal again these reading have been checked with the multi metre (where we can) and have been right. my question is could something else be causing our problems as pretty soon there will be no altenators left as we would have tried the all. any reponse or ideas of what to look for welcome.
chris.

 

[ITS A FORD NOT A NISSAN]

sounds like the sense wire has a bad connection, although that wouldnt explain low voltage readings

the sense wire feeds the alt the battery voltage and the alt will bring the voltage up to around 14.1ish volts, once the sense wire reads about 14.1 volts it tells the alt to start reducing power, if this wire is dissconnected the alt will keep putting out max amps trying to bring up the volts that the sense wire is reading and being a bad or no connection at the sense wire will cause fluctuating or high voltages

 

[Derb]

Hi Gonebush. I hate to state the obvious, but do you think the problem may be other than the alternator? I would be checking the pickup voltage point for the regulator. Check your earthing system. Did this problem develop just after you fitted some accessories or played around with battery configuration? Good luck Boss.

 

[Tongie]

Regulator?? sound just like it..