Hi all,

I`ve not been on for a while, mainly because I`ve not got much time these days & my Jags been behaving impeccably!

Till today...

When I started it, the mileage display was pulsating, I thought it was strange, but it was running ok, so away I went... I stopped at the news agent 1/4 of a mile away, went in, came out, it started fine but was still pulsating.

A mile further on, the traction control warning came up (on a dimmed display), then the airbag light, then another amber one... I went to pull over & the indicators didnt sound or come up on the dash... Jumped out with it running, opened the boot & checked the battery terminals. All fine. Then I turned it off, left it for 30 seconds & turned it back on. No warnings but a pulsating display again... Drove off, within 5 minutes it did it again, but this time the gearbox was being held down in second gear & not even the windows were working, then as soon as I braked, it changed up & cleared (& didnt do that again).

Every time I came to a complete halt, the dash lights brightened up again (still showing faults though).

Strangely, the idle was lower (600rpm instead of 800) but smoother than its ever been before & the suspension seemed smoother & taughter....

By the end of the 7 mile journey, I could smell some plastic burning...

I`m now at my parents & have an hours worth of light left, any idea what I should look at?

Cheers! 

Thanks mate,

Thats what I thought, just been out there checking all the main connections in the boot & underbonnet + fuse boxes, all seem fine.

There was steam/smoke coming from the battery vent at idle, I checked the water lever, all low-ish, but above the cells, topped it up, restarted it, still pulsating, but no smoke from the battery...

I`m now wondering if its an alternator issue, either overcharging (not got a meter on me) or bad connection?

Just did a video:

http://youtu.be/ktnazUT7-Lg

I`m now worried if the headlights will be ok on the way home...

Right, just went out to see if the lights are working, yes & no...

Headlights were pulsing when I first put them on, as soon as you rev it, they go out, as does the instrument lighting.

Same deal with the indicators, they click as normal, but when you rev, they dont actually work...

And I`ve got to get home tonight....

I see from your other post you are removing regulator. Almost certain the regulator is inside and integral with the alternator. Rather than external "after generation" regulation more modern systems tend to control the generated voltage inside the alternator rather than making excess then bleeding it off.
Cheers