batteries @ 20v, not charging

2012 · Post by **2012** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:41 am

ok, i'm stumped. apparently the few hours i've driven my new pinz have been done on battery power alone (with no help from the the alternator). batteries are now down to about 20 volts so it won't start unless i use a different 24v supply.

i looked at connections here and there and everything seems newish and plugged in (and covered with a sticky black human mood enhancer that i finally got off my fingers with isopropol). some instructions i got over the phone about what to check as far as voltage here and there went mostly over my head simply because i know so little about fixing cars. i own a 1990 suburban that just goes to the shop when it breaks, while i go to work all day. i thought those instructions would come clear once i read the manual. but no, after reading the manual and seeing the special tools required just to get to the alternator and the special meter used to test it, it's clear this pinz alternator is very different and not an easy/simple setup to test. at least that's all the manual is revealing.

in addition to this show stopper, the manual states i will blow the diodes if i try to run the vehicle with the batteries disconnected, which is the way i'd guess is the only way to test for alternator output.

i'd call around orlando for a mechanic but ... i'm doubting now that there's going to be a shop here with the real understanding required to fix a pinzgauer. and how would i know if they did?

David Dunn · Post by **David Dunn** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:57 am

This is one of the oldest of Pinz problems, and is almost always the molex connector on the engine tin on the right side. The red wire will rot out of it.

Also, this is a good time to tell prople to do a search of the Yahoo group archive for simple problems. It is the grand daddy of english Pinz groups and everything has been covered there. Also check the sdp-p site, most all the common items are there also.

Dave Dunn

2012 · Post by **2012** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:11 am

man, THANKS! i'll go look at that right now. but... how do i test to see if its all working again?

i'll look at yahoo right now too...

David Dunn · Post by **David Dunn** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:14 am

[quote="2012"] but... how do i test to see if its all working again?

[quote]

With the engine running... shove the wire in.... RPMs will drop.

skybarney · Post by **skybarney** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:03 am

I had the same problem a while back, Jim L. asked if I checked the molex connector and I said that I had. He then went over to my truck and simply pulled the red wire off the molex connector with almost no pressure. Yep broken......................

I felt like an idiot.

2012 · Post by **2012** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 2:56 pm

problem solved!!!!

wayne roberts drove his 710 all the way down here to help with my stupidity. he sanded off the contacts, i had filled the battery back up with h2o, we jumper cabled it to get it going and wayne turned me on to the fact that you can see the alternator charge with the meter across the batteries. damn, i'm dumb. the batteries were 20v yesterday and the meter read 27v with the motor running today. alt and regulator are good <sigh>.

i looked over his truck and decided i want one of those, too. the exhaust he got from scott is awesome - totally quiet. the snorkel he made from tail pipe tubing is awesome.

it's an gr8 day that my pinz it out there running.