My Landie has been eating alternators, six over the last 4 years.
Although I am guilty of bolting on some dodgy old items I am sure this is a fault in the wiring which is getting worse. My battery is low this morning so it hasn't been charging even though the warning light has not been on. Previously I all but ran out of electrics one night, then just as I was about to break down suddenly the alternator started working again. I replaced that alternator (brushes were OK, I had replaced the regulator some weeks before), checked everything and it all seemed fine, now it has stopped charging again. Previous alternators seem to have overheated, and a couple have failed with the charging light coming on when I turn the ignition off (a bad sign, and I haven't been welding it).
I am wondering if there is an intermittent break in the warning light circuit to the alternator. I think there is a resistor in there somewhere, but I don't know what it looks like (or is it resistance wire in the loom?). Anyone have any ideas ? I have been thinking of running a separate control wire to the alternator outside the loom, but need to figure out what to connect it to at the dash end. Anyone know how this bit of circuit works ?
Steve