Got to love the RAC...
Discussion
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.) Would the car even have started if the fuse had failed?
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.
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.
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...
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.
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!
Halfords sell a low one that I use.....costs £35Brilliant advice as always, ta!
halfwitslink
QBee said:
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.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!
Drive onto a block of wood or a decent sized brick Brilliant advice as always, ta!
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