Nice ride home....

[jimothy]

Just had a nice day out with the g/f, my best mate and his 21 month old nipper at Marwell zoo.

And a nice journey home too!

http://homepage.mac.com/jimbobbennett/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-01-09%2011.05.41%20-0800/Image-3091A419627111D9.jpg

The alternator looks like its died.

Is this a garage jobby or can I pick one up and do it myself?

[Corin Denton]

Sorry to hear that, get an exchange unit from your local Lucas supplier should be about £90 (TVR will charge you double that!) and fit it yourself

Easy to fit.

[jsr]

My alternator died recently only 10 months after replacing with a reconditioned unit. Took it to my local car electrical specialists and they repaired it within an hour for just £20.

It's worth taking the alternator to your nearest specialist first - they'll be able to test it and if possible repair it. Much cheaper than getting a reconditioned one.

The guys that did mine showed me what had failed on my alternator - new bushes had been soldered to old parts when the alternator was reconditioned - they could even identify which company did the reconditioning - they know of them and told me they were cowboys. I was just unlucky to get one of their units when the alternator was replaced.

[jimothy]

Further investigation (i.e. reading the Gospel according to St Heath) has revealed it may not be the alternator, it could be the belt... (Thats what the bible says check first if the light comes on!)

Whats the best way of testing the belt? Is it easy and cheap to replace?

[IPAddis]

jimothy said:

Further investigation (i.e. reading the Gospel according to St Heath) has revealed it may not be the alternator, it could be the belt... (Thats what the bible says check first if the light comes on!) Whats the best way of testing the belt? Is it easy and cheap to replace?

?? Look in the engine bay. If the belt is still attached and going round, it's working. They usually squeal like a b*stard if they are slipping.

Ian A.

[2 Smokin Barrels]

jimothy said:

Further investigation (i.e. reading the Gospel according to St Heath) has revealed it may not be the alternator, it could be the belt... (Thats what the bible says check first if the light comes on!) Whats the best way of testing the belt? Is it easy and cheap to replace?

If yours is a serpentine engine (one belt) it's a piece of cake to change. Take a digi photo first of the route taken by belt (it is possible to fit wrongly). Apply pressure to tensioner wheel & slip belt off/on. If belt is turning the alternator, it's not likely to be that though.

[anonymous-user]

CHECK THE FUSIBLE LINK FIRST

I had a fuse go, thought it was the alternator.

Was on the verge of spending £200 + when the dealer said chekc the fuse.

Lo and behold, £1.00 fuse and £10 for my local garage to put it on ramps and fit it and it was back on the road.

The fuse link is mounted in a box on the chassis rail under the car. It is common for this fuse to go.

Might be worth checking before going the whole new alternator route.

[jimothy]

I checked the fusable link with a multimeter and it appeared to be ok. Checked the alternator, thats ok.

My guess is the link is ok ebough for a multimeter, but not for charging (a problem other appear to have had)

So looks like its time to change it.

After jacking the car enough to check, it lost my bottle. Don't want to jack it up again and get under it cos I'm a big girls blouse, and the way it moved when I tried to lower it got me worried...

So best bet is a garage. However, how far can I drive with a full charge but no alternator?

[2 Smokin Barrels]

jimothy said:

I checked the fusable link with a multimeter and it appeared to be ok. Checked the alternator, thats ok. My guess is the link is ok ebough for a multimeter, but not for charging (a problem other appear to have had) So looks like its time to change it. After jacking the car enough to check, it lost my bottle. Don't want to jack it up again and get under it cos I'm a big girls blouse, and the way it moved when I tried to lower it got me worried... So best bet is a garage. However, how far can I drive with a full charge but no alternator?

FFS, NEVER get under a jacked up car!!! (Without proper supports)

I drove from Stoke to Nottingham with no alternator, no probs. It was daylight, however, but raining.

[jimothy]

2 Smokin Barrels said:

FFS, NEVER get under a jacked up car!!! (Without proper supports)

I had a 2-tonne trolley jack, a scissor jack and 2 2-tonne axle stands under it and I still wussed out. Hanging head in shame!

Never got under a car before so probably unduly nervous but better safe than big laundry bill.

[2 Smokin Barrels]

Old sayings are old sayings cos they're normally true.

In this case "better safe than sorry!"