Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

hi
i got a phantom draw that will decharge my two batteries in a few days...

i connected a test light from the disconnected negative terminal to ground.
i closed the doors. i removed all the fuses one by one to narrow it down, no avail.

when i disconnect the alternator fuse harness, then the test light goes off.

so i gather my phantom draw is in the alternator circuits.
what next? any help from you snobby nerds would be much appreciated.

Inside the alternator is a thing called a diode bridge. This converts the ac output of the alternator to dc needed in your van. If one
of the diode (there are usually 6) goes bad it will allow reverse power flow to discharge your battery. You need to remove the alternator and split it
open to get at it which is a fairly involved piece of work. If you are good at that stuff you may save a few hundred bucks doing it.
Buen Suerte.
Andy Wilson

Can't help you with your problem, but now you've had more than one reply!

Modsqwad wrote:Inside the alternator is a thing called a diode bridge. This converts the ac output of the alternator to dc needed in your van. If one
of the diode (there are usually 6) goes bad it will allow reverse power flow to discharge your battery. You need to remove the alternator and split it
open to get at it which is a fairly involved piece of work. If you are good at that stuff you may save a few hundred bucks doing it.
Buen Suerte.
Andy Wilson

right on! i heard the same from another respected source today. thats what ill do. ill bring the alternator to the local autoelectric shop, hopefully the diodes are available in powell river...

kb&2dogs wrote:Can't help you with your problem, but now you've had more than one reply!

HA! good thing im not a newbee, or id only get one good reply to my post

hey modsqwad: welcome to the forum and thanks for contributing!
i drove to sayulita last winter, maybe ill see you there next winter

If you think for sure it's the alternator
You can pull it out (total drag from my understanding)
and bring it to a Crappy Tire,they will test it for
free. From there you can take it to CC for exchange,
or alternator shop if need be.
Please post what you find out!

Right on!
Luna-Sea
Level 3 waste oil-druid

Luna-Sea wrote:If you think for sure it's the alternator
You can pull it out (total drag from my understanding)
and bring it to a Crappy Tire,they will test it for
free. From there you can take it to CC for exchange,
or alternator shop if need be.
Please post what you find out!

Right on!
Luna-Sea
Level 3 waste oil-druid

except in extreme emergency, or nobody else in PR has something, i will not walk into CT, esp not the parts/service department. recall: http://www.delica.ca/forum/canada-tire- ... +long+post

thankfully in PR we have a fantastic auto electric shop. its about the size of a big shoebox but the dude is awesome and has always been enamoured by the delica. itll be next week before i drop it out. going to diversity festival tomorrow for the weekend! i will definitely post it up.

are the diodes generic? is there a #? does anybody knwo the alternator part #?

after oil wrote:hey modsqwad: welcome to the forum and thanks for contributing!
i drove to sayulita last winter, maybe ill see you there next winter

Are you running chip oil? Hows that working out if so? Any time you are coming to Sayulita let me know, we can have a beer
at La Terrazola and watch the sun hit the water. Let me know how you make out with that mystery draw.
Andy Wilson

Modsqwad wrote:Inside the alternator is a thing called a diode bridge. This converts the ac output of the alternator to dc needed in your van. If one
of the diode (there are usually 6) goes bad it will allow reverse power flow to discharge your battery. You need to remove the alternator and split it
open to get at it which is a fairly involved piece of work. If you are good at that stuff you may save a few hundred bucks doing it.
Buen Suerte.
Andy Wilson

This diode bridge is known as a rectifier and the problem you describe is known as regulator bleed back....very common in Harley Davidson Regulator/rectifiers.

An alternator with wonky diodes (particularly in a 15 year old vehicle) may well have other issues.

When Gumdrop's alternator decided it didn't want to alternate last year, it was clear that the diodes weren't dioding very well - a slight discharge, and 0.7 volts across the electrical system, even with the ignition off.

...laura

ive decided to replace the alternator all together. its the easiest and fastest. our local auto electric repair shop owner is ill, otherwise id have him rebuild it. also the van is sold (not my space antelope!) and im delivering it to keremeos on saturday...

after oil wrote:ive decided to replace the alternator all together. its the easiest and fastest. our local auto electric repair shop owner is ill, otherwise id have him rebuild it. also the van is sold (not my space antelope!) and im delivering it to keremeos on saturday...

Any idea if it's possible to install a stronger alternator? How much was your replacement?

i swapped alternators. there is no phantom draw now.

fexlboi wrote:Any idea if it's possible to install a stronger alternator? How much was your replacement?

There are 75A and 90A alternators, and as near as Glen from CCAutos can tell, there is no rhyme nor reason to determine which you'll have in your van based on trim package. That being said, if you've got the 90A, that should be plenty, unless you want to install a massive stereo setup, extra batteries for the hydraulic kit, 19 more bush/driving lights and a camping refrigerator - then you might want another alternator.

Someone at work suggested installing a second alternator, but I've never heard of that, where to put it, how to build a bracket, etc, etc, etc. Anybody?

I have heard of some people pulling their a/c units and shifting their alt. up to that position for better protection from water etc. Maybe you could install a second alt. in that position. I rebuilt my alt. last year for the same reasons. I hope it works for you guys. Keep on driving!
Cheers!