Tam &Toby do Europe ...Take two

[Hymerbell]

Oh the 2 out of 3 must have been the stray dog and the sign then.

 

[Northernraider]

Well we've just been for a long walk from here to the start of the beach at Malaga city and back just under 9km round trip.

I'll stay here tonight and then move on in the morning I think as from last year's experience the weekend is busy here with daytrippers.

I had to laugh this morning ....about 1/2 km from this spot on way to Malaga there's a carpark that's on park4night.....there's a bout a dozen vans parked in it mostly German and a couple of Dutch. One German guy has his van parked in the corner ...motorbike trailer with bike off it ...awning out and strapped down , tyre covers on , big cover over screen and front body , astro turf groundsheet , table chairs , vase of flowers on table , fairy lights around awning and even solar powered garden lights staked around the van and attached to the fence posts. The n340 runs right at his van rear lol. And by the looks of things he's there for a long time

 

[monzer]

Where you at @Northernraider ?

 

[Northernraider]

Where you at @Northernraider ?

El peñon del cuervo

Its between cala de moral and malaga.
Think I'll go to torremolinos tomorrow till Monday then head up to alhama de granada

 

[monzer]

I'll keep an eye out and come say hello if I see you and the dugs. I'm at the parking spot at the beach at torremolinos at the moment.

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[Northernraider]

I'll keep an eye out and come say hello if I see you and the dugs. I'm at the parking spot at the beach at torremolinos at the moment.

Which one ?

 

[monzer]

Can't put photos up from my phone but it's 13 calle gad on park4night.

Just a big gravel car park but handy for the beach and cycle paths.

 

[Northernraider]

Can't put photos up from my phone but it's 13 calle gad on park4night.

Just a big gravel car park but handy for the beach and cycle paths.

Ah cool ..I normally park at the one along from that. Usually get a little street to myself

 

[monzer]

Yeah I've seen a few vans dotted along all the side streets. No one seems to bother them.

 

[Northernraider]

Yeah I've seen a few vans dotted along all the side streets. No one seems to bother them.

Yeah I parked there twice last year with no bother. Malaga is much the same

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[Northernraider]

Well I decided as there was a huge gang of youths having a beach party that I would jist move along to torremolinos this evening.

Jeeso what a difference to last year there are loads of motorhomes at this bit
Still I'm here now.

But I think I have a problem with Toby. For some reason my battery light has come on the dash and won't go out I've had a look as much as I can see under bonnet which is pretty much zero ....so I'm not sure if my alternator has packed in or what.

So I may have to find a garage on Monday to have a look . That should be fun.

Don't suppose anyone knows a mechanic near torremolinos ....preferably one who speaks English

 

[Northernraider]

Yeah I've seen a few vans dotted along all the side streets. No one seems to bother them.

How busy is it where you are ? There's a lot more vans at this bit than there was last year even in June

 

[john lillie]

fan belt?

 

[Northernraider]

fan belt?

No idea I can't see anything at the minute.

 

[Barclaybasher]

I'm sure you will check as much as you can.

I had (have) the same problem with my Eriba (1991 2.5 diesel Trafic)

The ignition light came on as I was driving over 2 years ago, I was on my way so took a chance and carried on.

It stayed on until I got to my destination, an hour later but no problem.

If I had to I could use my hab battery to jump start

Since then the light has come on for long periods, going out for a while, then back on again without any effect - no flat battery.

I was puzzled that this continued to happen, had my alternator checked - no problem so I just carried on driving the van.

I asked a mechanic for his take on my (non) problem. he said it was probably a bad connection to the light on the dash but might be hard to find and not to worry.

It still comes on randomly now and a couple of years ago I crossed France with the light on most of the time.

You may have a real problem but I thought I'd share my experience..........

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[Northernraider]

I'm sure you will check as much as you can.

I had (have) the same problem with my Eriba (1991 2.5 diesel Trafic)

The ignition light came on as I was driving over 2 years ago, I was on my way so took a chance and carried on.

It stayed on until I got to my destination, an hour later but no problem.

If I had to I could use my hab battery to jump start

Since then the light has come on for long periods, going out for a while, then back on again without any effect - no flat battery.

I was puzzled that this continued to happen, had my alternator checked - no problem so I just carried on driving the van.

I asked a mechanic for his take on my (non) problem. he said it was probably a bad connection to the light on the dash but might be hard to find and not to worry.

It still comes on randomly now and a couple of years ago I crossed France with the light on most of the time.

You may have a real problem but I thought I'd share my experience..........

Yeah it's just weird how it suddenly came on

I had stopped at Malaga and I was getting this strange vibrating rattle on idle but going when I raised revs so I stopped to check my exhaust.
Then when I went to start the van the immobiliser had kicked in so I had to retry it a couple of times ....it's then I noticed the light was on

Had a look underneath and in engine bay when I stopped at torremolinos but can't see anything....I can't even see the alternator

But I'll drive the rhd front wheel up on kerb tomorrow to give a boy ground clearance and get under it to check. If I can see the alternator then I can check belt and cable plug etc.

Hoping it's something simple

 

[monzer]

How busy is it where you are ? There's a lot more vans at this bit than there was last year even in June

30, 40 vans maybe. It's a big old piece of ground.

Don't worry you're not the only ones with electrical problems

 

[Northernraider]

30, 40 vans maybe. It's a big old piece of ground.

Don't worry you're not the only ones with electrical problems

30 or 40 ??
Sod that lol There's maybe a dozen here


What's wrong with yours ?

 

[Barclaybasher]

I love older vans, my Mobilvetta opens the passenger door central locking when I put the headlamps on!

..........it doesn't even have central locking that works........no fob, nothing

It did have an aftermarket alarm with CL fitted sometime in the past....... not bothered though

 

[Scotch mist]

If you have a multimeter check the voltage at the cab battery when the van is not started , (12.7v approx) then start the engine and then check the battery voltage should be 13.8 aprox , if the voltage does not increase from first reading then there’s no charge going to the battery
You probably know this , if so just ignore me

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[Northernraider]

If you have a multimeter check the voltage at the cab battery when the van is not started , (12.7v approx) then start the engine and then check the battery voltage should be 13.8 aprox , if the voltage does not increase from first reading then there’s no charge going to the battery
You probably know this , if so just ignore me

Yeah I planned to check if charging in morning , want to get a look at the alternator first though

 

[Feltwell]

Had a look underneath and in engine bay when I stopped at torremolinos but can't see anything....I can't even see the alternator

But I'll drive the rhd front wheel up on kerb tomorrow to give a boy ground clearance and get under it to check. If I can see the alternator then I can check belt and cable plug etc.

Hoping it's something simple

2.8JTD I take it? Yes, you'll have to crawl underneath to see the alternator - right at the back of the engine as well. I take it you've got a multimeter - if it's not charging first thing to check is there's a large fuse on the connection from the alternator back up to the battery, mounted on the battery connector block, that went on mine.

 

[monzer]

30 or 40 ??
Sod that lol There's maybe a dozen here


What's wrong with yours ?

Hab battery doesn't seem to be charging. I had problems with the batteries a while back but they've been good till now. Anything more than one interior light on and the 'low bat' light is flashing.

I need services tomorrow so I am tempted to nip up the road to try get on the campsite for a night to get plugged in and have a look at the batteries.

This will also allow me to get the laptop powered up to watch the Aberdeen game

 

[Northernraider]

Hmmm well it looks like my alternator may be knackered.

Red light on dash won't go out. This morning I drove the rich hand front wheel up on the kerb so I could get under van to alternator. Wires look fine , belt looks fine. Checked fuses at battery they are all fine.

Put volt metre on battery with engine off reads 12.8v
Starts engine it drops to 12.4v and stays there so not getting any charge from alternator. Fortunately my solar also charges engine battery so it won't go flat right now but I need a garage and probably a new alternator.
Any recommendations for a garage?
I'll be staying in torremolinos till Monday then I planned to head up to alhama de granada before starting my drive north. I'd planned to go Toledo, zaragozza etc but not set in stone.

 

[Lenny HB]

Sounds expensive, good luck getting it sorted.
See if you can find an auto electrical company, they can often rebuild the alternator quite cheap. Could just be the diode pack or the regulator they just bolt onto the back of the alternator.

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[Manic]

As said before, to get to the alternator you have to go underneath behind the front wheel and if you want to get to the belt you have remove the splash guard, on mine it’s a 17mm spanner bolt front and back and a 10mm spanner nut mid point behind wheel, no need to remove wheel.

 

[Northernraider]

Sounds expensive, good luck getting it sorted.
See if you can find an auto electrical company, they can often rebuild the alternator quite cheap. Could just be the diode pack or the regulator they just bolt onto the back of the alternator.

Yeah you never know over here. An alternator on eBay is anything from £100 - £150

Unfortunately over here prices can vary.

I've found through Google an auto electrical guy about 4 miles away which has great reviews on Google regarding work and price etc , unfortunately closed till Monday so I'll drive round to him Monday morning and see.
Hopefully he speaks a little English and maybe not need a complete alternator.

Wondering if it's been on it's way out and maybe that's why it's not been charging my leisures.

At least the solar will keep it topped up meantime.

Hey ho the joys of motorhomes

 

[Northernraider]

As said before, to get to the alternator you have to go underneath behind the front wheel and if you want to get to the belt you have remove the splash guard, on mine it’s a 17mm spanner bolt front and back and a 10mm spanner nut mid point behind wheel, no need to remove wheel.

Yeah I got to it by driving the van up on kerb to gain some height.

The belts ok and tight , wires are ok etc not a lot of room in there though.

 

[jumartoo]

If you need a new alternator just count your blessings you're not in Norway .

 

[Scotch mist]

Wondering if it's been on it's way out and maybe that's why it's not been charging my leisures.

Morning tam , I thought I read you had changed the batteries when you bought Toby & then again on the way down to the Chanel

Am I getting old & confused lol ?
If so maybe was the alternator was playing up

Could be worse could be here in today’s weather trying to fix it

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