Got to love the RAC...

Got to love the RAC...

Author
Discussion

Squirrelofwoe

Original Poster:

3,181 posts

175 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
My alternator has just died, about 5 miles from home- so i phone the RAC and get the message;

We are currently experiencing system problems, please try again later...

I clearly chose a bad time to break down! curse

sparkythecat

7,898 posts

254 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Just drive home.
The battery will get you 5 miles.
I managed over 40miles when the 100 amp fuse went on mine.

Edited by sparkythecat on Saturday 21st January 17:39

sparkythecat

7,898 posts

254 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Are you home yet?

Squirrelofwoe

Original Poster:

3,181 posts

175 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Yep just got the car home, msnaged to get a tow from my girlfriend's dad with his Freelander. Car had completely died, i used the last bit of juice to get the car off of the dual carriageway.

I feel like a proper TVR owner now! laugh

Edited by Squirrelofwoe on Saturday 21st January 18:44

Milky400

1,960 posts

177 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Happens to the best of us......

Must choose your time better next time, maybe ring the RAC prior to leaving just to check if it is ok to call should you get into difficulty

Richard 858

1,882 posts

134 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Dave (OP), as has already been said, check the 100/125 amp fuse first before condemning the alternator. The fuse is generally located on the lower off side chassis rail (box section) more or less straight down from the alternator position. It sits in the main positive cable from the alternator to the starter/battery.

Squirrelofwoe

Original Poster:

3,181 posts

175 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Richard 858 said:
Dave (OP), as has already been said, check the 100/125 amp fuse first before condemning the alternator. The fuse is generally located on the lower off side chassis rail (box section) more or less straight down from the alternator position. It sits in the main positive cable from the alternator to the starter/battery.
I did wonder that, but looking back to when i started the car (successfully) this morning the symptoms were there of a lack of battery charging- it struggled basically. I then drove it 20miles and then had it parked up for the afternoon at my parent's, until I went to drive home and it barely started (but did again- just).

Would the car even have started if the fuse had failed?

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Richard 858 said:
Dave (OP), as has already been said, check the 100/125 amp fuse first before condemning the alternator. The fuse is generally located on the lower off side chassis rail (box section) more or less straight down from the alternator position. It sits in the main positive cable from the alternator to the starter/battery.
If the fuse has blown, the alternator cannot charge the battery or supply juice to the coil, so you are running on battery.
100 amp fuses fail a lot more often than alternators. It is by where the rear arm of the lower driver's side wishbone meets the chassis. Unbolt it right out - it may be in two pieces.

This was mine being fixed.


N7GTX

7,822 posts

142 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Milky400 said:
Happens to the best of us......

Must choose your time better next time, maybe ring the RAC prior to leaving just to check if it is ok to call should you get into difficulty
Clearly QBee knows this....boxedin

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Squirrelofwoe said:
Richard 858 said:
Dave (OP), as has already been said, check the 100/125 amp fuse first before condemning the alternator. The fuse is generally located on the lower off side chassis rail (box section) more or less straight down from the alternator position. It sits in the main positive cable from the alternator to the starter/battery.
I did wonder that, but looking back to when i started the car (successfully) this morning the symptoms were there of a lack of battery charging- it struggled basically. I then drove it 20miles and then had it parked up for the afternoon at my parent's, until I went to drive home and it barely started (but did again- just).

Would the car even have started if the fuse had failed?
That's exactly the symptoms of a failed 100 amp fuse.....you have been running on battery, and draining it, ever since the fuse failed. I have had mine go twice, to one alternator failure. I agree it could also be an alternator failure, but check the fuse first. They cost a few pence.......and fail more often.

Richard 858

1,882 posts

134 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Squirrelofwoe said:
I did wonder that, but looking back to when i started the car (successfully) this morning the symptoms were there of a lack of battery charging- it struggled basically. I then drove it 20miles and then had it parked up for the afternoon at my parent's, until I went to drive home and it barely started (but did again- just).

Would the car even have started if the fuse had failed?
As Anthony (QBee) said, if the fuse has blown the car will start while there is enough charge left in the battery. If it is the fuse at fault I'd check the amperage of the alternator (they can vary from 80 amps to 125) and fit an uprated 125 amp fuse if required (they are a direct replacement available from TVR Parts, Powers performance, Recetech Direct etc.)

Milky400

1,960 posts

177 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Brilliant. Always worth pre-booking a time slot


Squirrelofwoe

Original Poster:

3,181 posts

175 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Thanks guys, i'll see if I can check the fuse tomorrow- will depend whether my trolley jack will go under it, I might need to get a more slimline one.

Brilliant advice as always, ta! thumbup

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
That failure happened 4 weeks after I got the car, on a Sunday afternoon on the A421 near the M1. RAC took 2 hours to arrive, which gave me long enough to post on PH on my smart phone.
By the time he arrived I knew it was the fuse, and knew where it was.
He did the rest, took out the two piece fuse, replaced it and started the car.

Next time, the failing fuse caused the car to stall as I put my foot on the clutch to change down, and thus spin on a track day. I knew immediately what the problem was, as there was no oomph to restart the car, and was able to sort it in the pits.

My alternator failed whilst I was doing 120 mph at Cadwell Park - managed to drive it the 45 miles home and change it myself. Replacement from Hobson Industries £106 by post - ironically they are 5 miles from Cadwell, if I had but known.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Milky400 said:
Must choose your time better next time,
And avoid lazy-arsed RAC blokes.

One told me he wasn't allowed to change my broken alternator belt at the roadside, but reluctantly tried when I told him another RAC bod did it the previous year at the roadside and even accomplished it by brute force under the car when he didn't have the right tool to free off the adjuster. All at 23.30 in the freezing cold, as he sang Kathy Kirby songs...hehe

He did this without removing the wheel arch liner, but lazy arse removed it, grunted a bit, then said he couldn't shift the adjuster, so gave up and beetled off without asking me to complete the customer satisfaction survey.

Unfortunately, the good one operates 50 miles away, but lazy arse is in my neck of the woods. I don't think I'll be renewing this year.

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Squirrelofwoe said:
Thanks guys, i'll see if I can check the fuse tomorrow- will depend whether my trolley jack will go under it, I might need to get a more slimline one.

Brilliant advice as always, ta! thumbup
Halfords sell a low one that I use.....costs £35

halfwitslink

Brithunter

599 posts

87 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
QBee said:
Halfords sell a low one that I use.....costs £35

halfwitslink
Bought one of those in 2015 for the MGF but it seems it needs soem oil now of the seal is failing as sometimes it does not want o pump up now. Also bought a pair of their axle stands which seem to be good value and well made.

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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Has anyone told you that the jacking point is the corner of the outrigger?

ClassicChimaera

12,424 posts

148 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Squirrelofwoe said:
Thanks guys, i'll see if I can check the fuse tomorrow- will depend whether my trolley jack will go under it, I might need to get a more slimline one.

Brilliant advice as always, ta! thumbup
Drive onto a block of wood or a decent sized brick wink

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
ClassicChimaera said:
Squirrelofwoe said:
Thanks guys, i'll see if I can check the fuse tomorrow- will depend whether my trolley jack will go under it, I might need to get a more slimline one.

Brilliant advice as always, ta! thumbup
Drive onto a block of wood or a decent sized brick wink
Errrr....that's if it will even start....hehe