One that I'm putting up as it may help someone Googling this problem in future.....
Ducato 2.8JTD, suddenly started idling a bit faster than usual - 1000 rpm rather than usual 800-ish. A steady idle. No fault codes when I plugged my reader in, and nothing else was untowards. I was very uneasy though as this happened just after I'd changed the oil pressure switch - maybe a coincidence but had I done something to cause this whilst I was under the van?
Turns out I had. When changing the switch, which is underneath the engine in a very tight spot, I accidentally brushed a spanner against a connection on to the alternator which gave a spark - I didn't think much of it at the time, other than "don't do that again" and that it was a bit dodgy that a live connection to the battery was that exposed.
Anyway, trying to google the symptoms and I came across someone who had their alternator light on the dash on as well as the fast idle. No alternator light for me, but I stuck a multimeter across the battery and realized it wasn't being charged. Turns out the fuse in the bank on top of the positive battery terminal, where the lead from the alternator joins the battery, had blown - so the battery wasn't being charged.
So, if your van is idling a bit faster than usual for no obvious reason - stick a multimeter across the battery terminals and check it's being charged. Not sure why the battery light didn't come on on my van - maybe because the alternator was still working, or the battery voltage hadn't dropped enough yet? I've a battery master that trickle charges it from the leisure battery whilst parked up, and a solar panel that keeps that topped up, so maybe that was why.
New fuse for £1.99 off Ebay (it's not a normal blade fuse) and hopefully all will be well. Oh yes, and a rubber boot ordered to go over the connection where the positive lead joins the alternator, make sure it can't happen again!
Ducato 2.8JTD, suddenly started idling a bit faster than usual - 1000 rpm rather than usual 800-ish. A steady idle. No fault codes when I plugged my reader in, and nothing else was untowards. I was very uneasy though as this happened just after I'd changed the oil pressure switch - maybe a coincidence but had I done something to cause this whilst I was under the van?
Turns out I had. When changing the switch, which is underneath the engine in a very tight spot, I accidentally brushed a spanner against a connection on to the alternator which gave a spark - I didn't think much of it at the time, other than "don't do that again" and that it was a bit dodgy that a live connection to the battery was that exposed.
Anyway, trying to google the symptoms and I came across someone who had their alternator light on the dash on as well as the fast idle. No alternator light for me, but I stuck a multimeter across the battery and realized it wasn't being charged. Turns out the fuse in the bank on top of the positive battery terminal, where the lead from the alternator joins the battery, had blown - so the battery wasn't being charged.
So, if your van is idling a bit faster than usual for no obvious reason - stick a multimeter across the battery terminals and check it's being charged. Not sure why the battery light didn't come on on my van - maybe because the alternator was still working, or the battery voltage hadn't dropped enough yet? I've a battery master that trickle charges it from the leisure battery whilst parked up, and a solar panel that keeps that topped up, so maybe that was why.
New fuse for £1.99 off Ebay (it's not a normal blade fuse) and hopefully all will be well. Oh yes, and a rubber boot ordered to go over the connection where the positive lead joins the alternator, make sure it can't happen again!