ajh Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I'm in the process of reconnecting a late-model Defender 200TDI loom and have some odd behaviour that probably has an obvious cause that I'm not aware of. I'm sure once I run the whole loom again I'll find the cause but if someone can point me to it if it really is obvious it'll save a lot of time. Enough of the wiring is connected to start, stop, signals, headlights, heater fan etc. The issue is that when the positive terminal is put on there is a lot more current being pulled than there should be, a LOT more. Almost like a short but I haven't been able to find a cause yet and it happens even before the ignition is turned on, etc. There is one thick brown wire 'extra' that I don't think was on my loom that seems to go up the left wing either 12 or 10AWG and with a ring terminal, I'm guessing it goes to the alternator but this is one thing where the diagrams aren't always that helpful. Not sure if that being off is part of the cause. It's almost like a starter seized on or similar for the kind of current draw it seems to spark when the terminal is connected up. It's been a while since doing a LR stock harness, the last two were ISIS and a Painless and so far the Painless is by far my preference. Any direction to look would be great, if it is a short I'd have expected something to burn or a fuse to go etc but no sign of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajh Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 Oh, the reason I noticed is the battery drained over a few days and when I tried to charge it the charger overheat protection came on pretty quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Glow plug realy stuck?? don't even know if they have one, but it's the only thing that I can think of that would draw that amount of current without blowing a fuse. Good luck, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Thick brown sounds like starter terminal to alternator to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSD Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Glow plug realy stuck?? I saw this recently on a forum members 300tdi. The owner changed the battery and the alternator before the cause of repeated flat batteries was found. The AA suggested the new battery was 'not suitable' for the alternator, being an AGM type Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 is this thick brown wire a plain single colour brown or does it have a white trace colour on it either as a straight line or a spiral line if the latter it's the 12v feed for the glowplug timer relay, try a good known timer relay as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajh Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 Thick brown with ring terminal, also has black plastic protector running down the last foot and a half or so. Looks like alternator. I know the weirdness isn't the glow plug timer because there currently isn't one plugged in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajh Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 Also; the wire doesn't seem hot, I checked and there is another wire that looks more or less the same but much heavier (8awg probably) connected to the hot terminal on the alternator already. My 110 doesn't have this other wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajh Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 This is the wire in question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 on my defender spec 200tdi the engine loom runs from bulkhead connections along the injector side of engine, then between cylinder head & thermostat housing to alternator & starter solenoid, reckon that wires should be on your starter solenoid terminal. it certainly looks to be long enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajh Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 OK, that makes some sense... but can you say why? It isn't hot on the other end so it does go somewhere hot for sure, but what is is supposed to be delivering power to? So far everything seems to work which is why I'm a bit confused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Do you have a hand held IR thermometer? if you don't then buy one and you'll wonder how on earth you ever managed without it. You can get a good one for a £100 but a Fleabay one for £20 will do the job just as well. Connect everything up then just look for the warmer wire or fuse.They're invaluable in tracing electrical faults, even before they occur. Cheers, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 OK, that makes some sense... but can you say why? It isn't hot on the other end so it does go somewhere hot for sure, but what is is supposed to be delivering power to? So far everything seems to work which is why I'm a bit confused. keeps most of the loom clear of turbo & exhaust, that's how LR designed/built it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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