Daihatsu Fourtrak Fieldman - can you help?

[MAH]

Good afternoon all. Happy New year.

Can anyone help?

I have had the vehicle for 10 or more year.

The 3 warning lights in the photo have just ALL come on (*stayed on?) at the same time.

Whilst the battery might be a true warning, the brake fluid level is fine, and the diesel sensor has never been fitted.

I’ve checked the main fuse box, all ok.

I’ve noticed the alternator is not charging (12.3v), so I’ve fitter a S/H replacement alternator. No change.

The vehicle drives ok, but is obviously draining the battery.

*From memory, these 3 lights are on when you start the engine, then NORMALLY go off after a short delay. So whatever initiates that delay, maybe faulty.

My questions:

• Does any one own a fourtrak, can you check if my memory (above) is correct? Do they go off after a delay?
• Has anyone seen this or even better fixed this problem before?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Mike


*

 

[Roedeer 1962]

It could be the starter motor I had a similar problem the battery was draining , it turned out to be a short in the solenoid had the starter motor serviced and the problem was solved

 

[MAH]

Thanks for your comment @Roedeer 1962
I may have mislead you.
The battery is not "draining" when the vehicle is not being used.
However, if I drive it like this, with no charge from the alternator, then the battery will eventually go flat.

Do you still have your fourtrak?
If yes , please take a look at the lights
Which ones stay on for a short time?

M

 

[VSS]

I have had a couple of "Dai Tatws" fourtracks over the years, but not for a while.
iirc, the brake light and battery light come on when ignition is turned on, and go off when engine is started.
The other light, right hand side of your photo, orange, indicates water in the fuel filter (or some such place). There's a small plastic tap - shaped like a wing nut - on the bottom of the fuel filter or sediment trap or some other similar part of the fuel system (I forget exactly where). Loosen that tap to drain off the water, and the light will go off.

 

[MAH]

indicates water in the fuel filter (

Thanks for the quick reply.
Your right.. in theory.
But the filter this basic model does not have a water senor fitted
M

 

[eldon]

It could be the starter motor I had a similar problem the battery was draining , it turned out to be a short in the solenoid had the starter motor serviced and the problem was solved

Yes, I remember years ago back in the early 90's a customers vehicle (Ford Fiesta iirc) came in and wasn't charging. I changed the alternator as they had requested and it still wasn't charging.
The alternator fed the battery via the starter motor terminals and cabling, that was the issue.

Certainly worth a look, although maybe a totally different set up on a Fourtrack.

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks for your comment @Roedeer 1962
I may have mislead you.
The battery is not "draining" when the vehicle is not being used.
However, if I drive it like this, with no charge from the alternator, then the battery will eventually go flat.

Do you still have your fourtrak?
If yes , please take a look at the lights
Which ones stay on for a short time?

M

The ALT needs to "make" voltage so the charging diode (ally heat sink ) is working as a drain.
Not sure if your ALT has a vac pump on the back?

 

[MAH]

Not sure if your ALT has a vac pump on the back?

Yes it does Tim. See photo.

@eldon thanks.
I've measured the voltage, 12.3 v, on the large cable. At the top.
The output from the alternator.
M

 

[Smellydog]

All alternators need a supply to energise them. Usually controlled by the computer now.
You need to check with engine running that supply is there. It will be the lightest cable going to the alternator. It maybe low but should rise as you turn the lights on etc.
Testing output to the battery is often a red herring. Without the energising current it won't charge. Often a broken wire somewhere.

 

[Tim.243]

All alternators need a supply to energise them. Usually controlled by the computer now.
You need to check with engine running that supply is there. It will be the lightest cable going to the alternator. It maybe low but should rise as you turn the lights on etc.
Testing output to the battery is often a red herring. Without the energising current it won't charge. Often a broken wire somewhere.

@MAH it is called the exciter wire as SD pointed out the smaller spade terminal, the 10mm wide one or 7mm nut will be the output. The small wire gets hard and is then cut back and a poor crimp made.

 

[viking90]

I have a feeling it's this that might be causing your problems. I miss my old fourtrak, that 2.8 was a beast of an engine.

This is from the milners website so you'll just need to copy the part number

 

[MAH]

I have a feeling it's this that might be causing your problems. I miss my old fourtrak, that 2.8 was a beast of an engine.

This is from the milners website so you'll just need to copy the part number

View attachment 399577

Thanks I'll look into that.
M.

 

[fivehole]

Could be the regular (as previously mentioned) or could be the alternator itself.
With the engine running give the alternator a good thump with a hammer. If the lights go out it’s probably the brushes worn out.

 

[Tim.243]

As an apprentice (1977) one of my jobs was to skim the coms of armatures on the Myford 7 for the car auto firm in the units opposite.
Later in life running a car breakers for 10 years sold many units S/Hand with a label my dear old Dad used to write out and put in the small shed we had for that purpose. The exchange units were then sold to "Peter" who then sold them on.
@paul o' will remember "Dynamo Joe" who could fix any unit.

 

[paul o']

Yup he was the nuts we would bring him down our burnouts and he would repair remake it no matter how old it was .
Nice old feller made us a few £ over the years as he painted them aswell so the refurbishment units could be sold at a higher price! Even though most were there own ones to start with

 

[Baldman]

Had many Fourtraks over the years had very few faults & one of them was the same warning lights came on , it was either the alternator or control box , i replaced both of a breaker fully charged battery should have 12.6 volts ign off , running should be 13.6 - 14.6 approx on fast idle & similar with lights etc on ( loaded )

 

[MAH]

Could be the regular (as previously mentioned) or could be the alternator itself.
With the engine running give the alternator a good thump with a hammer. If the lights go out it’s probably the brushes worn out.

1st prize goes to @fivehole - Thank you.
After lots of fiddling, measuring voltage and resistance, with no joy, I remembered what Fivehole suggested.

Initially sceptical about the suggestion, I now thought, why not give it a try?
Would you believe it?
Just 3 firm bangs on the alternator with a foot of 3x2 and all the lights are out.
Marvellous.
The vibrations must have allowed the brushes to make contact again.

For sure I still need to replace the brushes , but I now know what the problem is.

Many thanks for all your replies and suggestions.
Fyi.
Before getting the 3x2 out.i did the following
1 disconnected the voltage regulator.
2 turned ignition on. - all 3 light out. But with oil pressure and glow plug on.
Clearly the VR had some influence on the 3 lights in question.

3. I took the front and back off all 3 VRs that I had. All looked clean inside, no obvious issues.

4. I measured resistance of the various components connections on all 3.
The readings were all consistent.
So I assumed, all 3 must be ok..
The fault lies elsewhere.

At this point i reached for the 3 x2.

Once again the collective wisdom of The SD saves the day.

 

[fivehole]

Glad to help. If you do replace the brushes some alternators have a little hole in the rear casting which lines up with the brushes. If yours is like that use something thin to go through the hole and hold the brushes in place while you reassemble the alternator then simply pull out the “peg” to release the brush springs.

 

[MAH]

Glad to help

Thanks.
You've clearly done this before.
Top chap.
M

 

[Warren79]

I've often found - if in doubt give it a clout to be the answer to many problems.