never just one thing, it seems. problem diagnosis has now led me to believe that the alternator is not the original alternator. i took a friend along who has worked on cars for a number of years, and he took one look at the jerry rigged tensioning system on the alternator and suggested that (a) that needs to be replaced with original parts, as itīs knackered and (b) thatīs not the original alternator anyway, as it looks as if the original tensioning system attached to the other side of the engine.

now, my thoughts on how to progress are to buy original parts, i.e. the alternator and the tensioning system, and related fixings (some odd looking washer/bushing sorta things had largely disintegrated, which led to the alternator being loose). i think iīve now IDed the engine, it is an OM615.916, so not the original engine on this van, as the L406DG/35 originally came with an OM615.910. Iīve read that the OM615.916 was actually a Unimog engine, installed on Unimog U 52/421. Or that itīs from Argentina (other side of the Atlantic from me, so unless this van has led a really interesting life, I suspect the original info), this engine, but enough conflicting info led me to believe the first info at that point.

We have a local Merc garage, so I can approach them for alternator, tensioning system and fixings, then hopefully get the informed friend to help me install it all.