Vito sport alternator

[keysor]

How does the alternator work on a Vito sport van? I need to keep both my batteries at full charge due to an upgrade on the stereo system and i dont think its seeing the load from the amps.

 

[BTB 500]

Have you got the factory dual battery option?

 

[keysor]

No it’s a custom build, didn’t know that you could get factory option.

 

[BTB 500]

Yup there are factory options for a heavy duty battery (100 Ah) or twin batteries (2 x 100 Ah).

If yours is a custom setup it sounds like it's not wired up properly. I'm assuming one battery isn't charging?

 

[keysor]

Both are charging but not when I need it, When the stereo is on I need the alternator to be on to make sure that they are at full charge because one of the sub amps keeps blowing fuses, when the subs go to a real low bass its pulling all the power and if there no power its blows Is there a setting that MB can do so it can see that you have dual. Sorry to go off the topic but with your Vito did you get inside type wear from new and the rusty spring noise when going over speed humps which are anti roll bar bushes and links which I just found out. It’s just that I have two Vito sports and my friend has one about the same year and they all have gone about the same time my local MB garage said they couldn’t find anything wrong with it but my friend lives in Exeter and his local MB garage found it, are all the Vito`s like this from factory?

 

[BTB 500]

Well the alternator spins continuously. If there was a fundamental problem with charging you wouldn't be able to start the van, so it sounds like you have a problem with your stereo setup to me. From memory the alternator is rated 14 volts / 180 amps, which is pretty powerful.

I've not had any problem with inside tyre wear ... just the outside edges at the front (solution - go round corners slower ). Or ARB bushes, but I know this is a fairly common problem. There's a thread on this here.

The Sport (and Sport X) has exactly the same suspension as a standard Vito btw. Not like the VW 'Sportline' Transporter, which is lowered slightly.

 

[keysor]

Thanks for the info on the alternator I spoke to MB today about the dual batteries and he said two 12v together would be 24v so after some explaining and asking about the dual factory option he reply that dual batteries option doesn’t come from factory with them in the van has to go back and be fitted but he didn’t know where the battery would go how it would be done, But he did know it work cost £160 for new 100ah battery so I think I’m going to try a couple of them because the sport only comes with a 75ah as standard.