Its dead Jim

[225]

Twice in a week driving along after say 20minutes, press the accelerator and it splutters revs die, battery light comes on and then its completely dead. No power to start it or anything.
FIrst time I was taken back home and then I thought if it starts I'll give her a good run on the motorway to see if its battery. Just starts and I can keep things going if I dont let her idle on her on own, get onto the dual carrageway alls fine, in 4th press the accelerator after a good 20mins of driving (no lights, stereo or anyhting) and she just dies, nothing. Luckily I was by a junction so coasted to a halt just off the carrageway!

Then the green flag saga starts, call them out, say I need a low loader as its dead and I can get enough power after a jump to drive it on a low loader (which is what i did earlier in the week) so after an hour and 20minutes they send a bloke in a normal van "Sorry mate don't know why I was called cant help you"
Then another 30minutes later a bloke in a recovery truck comes and I say fine just give me a jump and I'll drive it on, "sorry mate I'm just recovery dont carry jump leads..."
Cant winch it on as can not find a towing eye, so another 20minutes for a 3rd van to come and jump me so I can drive it on the low loader.....

So bar shooting all of green flag staff any ideas as to what could be wrong?

Cheers

[Ribol]

Maybe it's not charging? Possible alternator/100A fuse problem?

[prtvr]

I agree with Ribol sounds like the alternator, same thing happened to me coming Back from London,
driving along and the car just died, the way to check if it is faulty
Is to place an avo across the battery terminals with the engine running, it should show a voltage of about 14 volts, if its less the problem is you are putting less into the battery than you are taking out.

Phil

[petros]

Spoke to Ian at Middlewich and he confirms that it's either a duff alternator or your batterys is well and truly ....

[anonymous-user]

Try the fuse link first, It is very common for this to go. It's only about £1.

A lot cheaper than £200 for an alternator!!

[brummiewedge]

Also chassis to engine earth strap. Prevented mine from starting.

[jsr]

Had exactly the same problem about 9 months ago - turned out to be the ignition module. I found that after about 30 minutes of driving it would splutter then die. After 10 minutes of not being able to start it, or it cutting after about 1 second of firing up, the engine would come back to life and all would be fine again (for another 30 mins or so).

I don't know why, but a failing ignition module that is close to the manifolds mus heat up over 30 minutes or so until such a point where it can no longer function. A fellow PHer sent a spare they had lying around and cured my problems. They are expensive, so worth being sure it is faulty before buying a new one.

Does sond very similar to mine though.

I've had alternator problems twice before, and what you describe does not sound like it's the alternator. In my experience, a faulty alternator will cause the engine to shut down, but will then struggle to turn the engine over when you try to restart. It probably wont restart and run out of juice. If it is alternator, dont exchange it for a reconditioned one - find yourself a local alternator specialist, they will be able to change the coil pack for much less.

[225]

Cheers guys, I'm hoping to get it looked at this week.