Alternator not charging on volvo 2002 engine

[philmac]

Hello,

I have been trying to diagnose a charging issue on my boat with no success and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts/experience?  My boat is equipped with a volvo penta 2002 motor and last weekend I noticed the alternator wasn't putting out current when we where under motor.  I had the alternator tested at the local alternator shop and after two hours of testing, it came out fine.  So the problem is apparently not the alternator and as it is internally regulated, not the regulator either.  The belt has the proper adjustment, there is power from the battery to the alternator and the negative ground is fine.  I can't find any blown fuses either (unless I missed something). I have tried the batteries individually, in case they are the problem (unlikely since they are new this season) and disconnected my smart charger and solar panel from the batteries with no effect. Is it possibly the electronic module in the instrument panel?  The only light that comes on when I turn the key before starting the engine is the temperature light.  Since the alternator is not working, the tach no longer works either.  I should add that I tried a new alternator first when I assumed the problem was just the alternator and the new one didn't work either.  I have a spare now I guess.  I am at a bit of a loss if anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate the insight.

Phil

[Mike Mullarky]

This is going to sound stupid, but test the idiot lights in the engine panel…..

 

If the alternator tests out, but isn’t activating, your control circuitry probably isn’t getting voltage back to the exciter.  Check the diagrams, but you can probably hit it with 12v to test (and as a short-term work around).

 

On our First 305, there was a circuit board with indicator lights behind the engine panel (tach, key, etc.).  The board was pretty corroded and eventually failed, but the initial failure was that a light was burned out.  Apparently the exciter circuit includes the bulb.

 

Simple to swap a couple for diagnostic purposes (and while you track down a source for the bulbs).

 

 

Mike Mullarky

J/35 Eighth Deadly Sin

Formerly First 305 Boreas

Magothy River, MD

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[ume...@comcast.net]

A couple of year ago I noticed the tach on ours not working on occasions when going under engine. Then I experienced some times problems trying to start the engine. I basically got nothing when turning the key! Turned out to be a loose nut on one of the starter connections holding the battery cable. It must have  vibrated loose. In our case, it's a location on STB side of the engine which is very hard to access. I had to take out the water pump and the alternator to get to it.

 

        Uwe Mewes

               F305

    Heaven Can Wait

---

[Mark J Wilme]

Similarly - check the connections behind the companionway steps - ours were loose which caused some form of arcing (my guess) and in turn a greenish corrosion occurred which caused resistance (again a guess) - long and short of it - they were not allowing electrical contact and were getting HOT

Mark Wilme
Mark....@Gmail.com

+1 (508) 826 5607

www.linkedin.com/in/markwilme

[Bill Jarvis]

Phil,

 

When you say there is power from the battery to the alternator I think you are meaning that there is 12V on the out terminal of the alternator.

 

Internally regulated alternators have a separate switched feed to the regulator so called “exciter”. It is normally connected to the engine on/off switch.

 

The fact that the alternator tests well in the shop but that you get no power or tach output tells me that the regulator is not getting its excitation.

 

I have seen this problem before. It is often a symptom of either a loose connection as others have suggested or of a failing engine switch.

 

Go to your circuit diagram and find which colored wire goes from the engine switch to the alternator. By bet would be that it is not showing 12V when the switch is on.

 

Bill

 

From: benetea...@googlegroups.com [mailto:benetea...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of philmac

Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2013 12:42 PM
To: benetea...@googlegroups.com

Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Alternator not charging on volvo 2002 engine

 

Hello,

I have been trying to diagnose a charging issue on my boat with no success and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts/experience?  My boat is equipped with a volvo penta 2002 motor and last weekend I noticed the alternator wasn't putting out current when we where under motor.  I had the alternator tested at the local alternator shop and after two hours of testing, it came out fine.  So the problem is apparently not the alternator and as it is internally regulated, not the regulator either.  The belt has the proper adjustment, there is power from the battery to the alternator and the negative ground is fine.  I can't find any blown fuses either (unless I missed something). I have tried the batteries individually, in case they are the problem (unlikely since they are new this season) and disconnected my smart charger and solar panel from the batteries with no effect. Is it possibly the electronic module in the instrument panel?  The only light that comes on when I turn the key before starting the engine is the temperature light.  Since the alternator is not working, the tach no longer works either.  I should add that I tried a new alternator first when I assumed the problem was just the alternator and the new one didn't work either.  I have a spare now I guess.  I am at a bit of a loss if anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate the insight.

Phil

--

[BrianD...@aol.com]

I noticed a similar problem on my B411.  The alternator gage indicated it was not charging.

 

I soon realized that they do not indicate charging when the batteries are almost completely charged.

 

Try running them down a bit, then starting the engine to ck.

Brian

Babel Fish

[philmac]

Thanks very much to you and the others.  I'm going to test the ground from the alternator again and I'll recheck the connection from the instrument panel.  There's an electronic module for the instrument panel that includes the temperature and alternator idiot light  I hope it isn't toast because the replacement module is 300 bucks from Volvo!  Weird little lights too! 

Phil

[philmac]

Doesn't sound stupid at all.  I looked at the connections to the panel.  The light isn't working and there is an electronic module that includes all of the idiot lights.  I'll see if the light still works.  Thanks.

Phil
On Thursday, September 5, 2013 12:50:56 PM UTC-4, Mike wrote:

[philmac]

Thanks.  I am going to go back and recheck the ground and the other connections.  I am going to hope for a loose connection and not the electronic module at the instrument panel which is 300 bucks from Volvo.

Phil

[philmac]

[philmac]

Thanks to all for some great suggestions.  I'm going to spend some time on this and I'll let you know how it works out.  Great knowledge pool out there!

Phil

[philmac]

The problem has been solved!  Thanks to those who suggested to look for the simplest thing first and to those who suggested I check all the connections.  The culprit turned out to be a corroded connection at the starter to the alternator.  As soon as cleaned off all the connections with emery paper, all of the idiot lights on my instrument panel came on, the tach started working and the alternator was charging.  Going sailing.  Thanks to all.

Phil

On Thursday, September 5, 2013 12:42:20 PM UTC-4, philmac wrote: