A belt on my 1990 Townace Royal Lounge has been slipping/squealing intermittently since I got it, sometimes at low revs, sometimes at high, sometimes not for a day or two. It usually only lasts a minute or two, but once lasted for about 1/2 an hour at low revs. The warning lights on the dash have also been coming on, buit not at the same time as the belt slips. I assumed an alternator problem, meant to get the charging tested for a few days, then read the archives and then started to think that it might be wire or fuse related, since there were no symptoms of low power.
Silly me - tried to start it yesterday evening and the engine coughed over once, then ticking warning lights and no turnover told me (I think!) that the battery is dead, therefore alternator faulty. Read the archives again and started wondering about the internal and external regulator. What is it, and where is it, and could it be the problem? Does it have anything to do with the vacuum pump that the man I rang for an quote for an alternator wanted to know about? (Something about being on the alternator or somewhere else.)
Sorry about long winded message.

- (#11623) raheem, 19 Jun 04 04:19

Someone else would be better commenting on the regulator...but I would be inclined to renew the alternator belts and charge the battery initially....the belts sound like they will be too damaged now to re-tension

- (#11623) chris turner, 19 Jun 04 07:42

i agree with chris, try changing the belts first. if these are slipping the alternator won't be performing to optimum anyway.
the vacuum pump you mentioned is built onto the front of the alternator and gives the vacuum for brake servo etc, as turbo prevents this being taken from engine air intake.

- (#11623) eddie, 21 Jun 04 06:17