Hi, my DI died on my boys today. Battery was completely dead. Hooked up a portable booster and the truck started and ran as long as the booster was hooked up. When I disconnected it, it immediately quit. I changed batteries thinking that I could get it to limp home, no luck. It would not start with the replacement battery, it may have been in need of a full charge. When I jumped it it would start and run, but when I disconnected it, it immediately quit.

I noticed that initially, I could not take it out of park (after a few minutes, I was able to shift into neutral). The windows and headlights didn't work and none of the interior lights worked. Only some of the dash lights worked. I did have a hard time starting it. It turned over strong but would kick in. Almost felt like it wasn't getting spark. When I started it earlier in the day, it started right up when jumped but died as soon and the jumper cables or booster were disconnected.

Rather than tow it home using a strap in the dark without my emergency flashers, I called AAA. The tow truck showed up, not a flatbed. Rather than wait another hour, I cancelled the tow and pulled the alternator and left the truck parked on the side of the road in a nice residential neighborhood next to La Jolla High School, hopefully it won't be vandalized tonight........... I will try to have the alternator rebuilt or replaced tomorrow, any suggestions on the rebuild, anything to ask for when they rebuild it? Is it worth the $300+ for a new one from AB or BP? Autozone and kragen want about $225 for a rebuilt, lifetime warranty. Is it normal for some of the systems to shut down if the alternator is dead? Even with a fresh battery? I noted that the cel and some of the other dash lights did not illumnate when I jumped it. the radio wouldn't power up and the clock was out most of the time. Also, door locks wouldn't operate, windows were dead, seats wouldn't move, light were dead, ......Flashers worked when the battery charged a bit. Very strange. I seemed like parts of the operating system just shut down. thanks in advance. Phil DI dead on the side of the road...........

 

Remove the battery and fully recharge it so it can then be driven you your local auto parts store having them check both the battery and alternator. Good chance it will be the alternator. If it is, be careful on buying another one, many of the rebuilts are bure crap. If you have an electrical shop in your town, have them build it, other wise go to Rover Connection and check out there options.

 

I just got back from having the Alternator tested. Like new! Dang, I wish that would have been the problem. The shop suggested that it might be a fuse, relay or loose wire.........Again, when the truck was running with the booster hooked up, I had no tach, no power windows, no radio.........Phil

 

If the main fuse in the engine fuse box, is good, it has to be the alternator. Do as I mentioned and charge the battery, reinstall it and go back to have it all tested in the truck.

 

Will do. I put the battery on the charger last night. I will check the fuse, reinstall the alternator and the battery and hook it all up and see what happens. Thanks Mike, Phil

 

Well, Mike comes to the rescue again. I checked the fuse and found that the 100 amp Linkable Fuse for the alternator situated in the fuse box directly behind the battery had blown. I am not sure, but probably when my boys tried to jump it yesterday. I couldn't find one anywhere in San Diego. Even the dealer was out. Everyone that I talked to told me that they had hardly ever seen one blown.

One repair shop had a similar fuse out of a DII. It was shorter than the DI version. I modified it a bit by snipping the ends and was able to screw it down on either side, just barely. Hooked up the battery and she started right up. It does look like there may have been some other fuses that blew as well. The radio doesn't have power to it. Who knows what else may have been affected. Maybe it will do the boys good to be without the radio for a few days.........

I did find a great alternator/starter rebuild shop in San Diego if you are looking. AES on Twain near Mission Gorge. They were going to charge $125 to rebuild the alternator, the local parts shops wanted $225 to $275 for the same thing. Thanks again. Mike here's to you. Phil

DI 1999
DII 2001