MR2 MK2 Alternator Problem - Help Please!

[Nicko_12345]

Hi, i am a total newbie to MR2's and aquired mine when my dad passed away earlier this year, I got the car through its mot and now have the car on the road, until today

Basically after starting the car to move it out of the garage to get my other car out, the car died and when i say died not even the hazard lights would work, luckily as i was on a matter of meters from my drive i manage to push the car out of the road.

Ok, on to my problems, when i pushed the car onto the drive i noticed some smoke coming from the engine bay thinking the worst i open the cover in record time and noticed that the smoke was coming from the alternator, first thing i did then was to disconect the battery and fetch the hose pipe!

Next i then took the battery and put it on charge, it was totally flat, several hours later and a full charge i connected it back up, 30 seconds after conecting it up the alternator started smoking again, even before i tried to start the car, so i took the battery off asap.

Now considering the car has done 300 faultless miles simce it went through the MOT and now this has happened 3 days before it is due to be driven to France by my brother where my dad wanted it to end up im pretty gutted

Anyone got any advise or help they can offer to me or at least help me learn more about the car, i.e specs etc etc?

All i no about the car is that it IS a import and is a 2.0 n/a and says G-limited on the rear (it also has a really nice tagra roof)

Thanks In advance

Nick....

[Red Devil]

I am curious about the battery being totally flat so soon after you have started the car.
There would have to be a massive current drain for that to happen.

If the smoke is definitely from the alternator itself then it's almost certainly goosed.
Hopefully it is just the unit itself that has failed. The regulator may have packed up or more likely the windings have shorted out.

Get an auto electrician to test the circuitry if you don't have the equipment/knowledge to do it yourself.
This may help you understand the basics - http://www.autoshop101.com/trainmodules/alternator...

Edited by Red Devil on Thursday 1st January 00:58

[Blue Meanie]

Sounds very much like an alternator... It's really one of those parts that can just go without real warning... Anyway, you've got yourself a nice car there. Depending on which revision it'll either be the earlier 154 bhp version, or the later 170 bhp version... (Don't worry about the power, though, as the earlier one is slightly quicker due to the cat laws stifling the benefit of the later ones. IF it is a beams, you are a lucky boy indeedy!

[Nicko_12345]

Blue Meanie said:

Sounds very much like an alternator... It's really one of those parts that can just go without real warning... Anyway, you've got yourself a nice car there. Depending on which revision it'll either be the earlier 154 bhp version, or the later 170 bhp version... (Don't worry about the power, though, as the earlier one is slightly quicker due to the cat laws stifling the benefit of the later ones. IF it is a beams, you are a lucky boy indeedy!

Is there a way of telling which version of the car it is?
I can get pictures etc tec of it?

[Nicko_12345]

Red Devil said:

I am curious about the battery being totally flat so soon after you have started the car.
There would have to be a massive current drain for that to happen.

If the smoke is definitely from the alternator itself then it's almost certainly goosed.
Hopefully it is just the unit itself that has failed. The regulator may have packed up or more likely the windings have shorted out.

Get an auto electrician to test the circuitry if you don't have the equipment/knowledge to do it yourself.
This may help you understand the basics - http://www.autoshop101.com/trainmodules/alternator...

Edited by Red Devil on Thursday 1st January 00:58

Looking on ebay there is several different alternators for the mr2, is there a way with it still on the car i can tell which on mine is?

[Nicko_12345]

Gazboy said:

The rocker cover gaskets on these weep, the oil drips onto the alternator, killing it. Change this when you replace the alternator, it's a couple of quid. I used to have mine changed at every service.

Just being out and had o look and there is no weeping on this one

Thanks for the advise though..

[Red Devil]

Nicko_12345 said:

Red Devil said:

I am curious about the battery being totally flat so soon after you have started the car.
There would have to be a massive current drain for that to happen.

If the smoke is definitely from the alternator itself then it's almost certainly goosed.
Hopefully it is just the unit itself that has failed. The regulator may have packed up or more likely the windings have shorted out.

Get an auto electrician to test the circuitry if you don't have the equipment/knowledge to do it yourself.
This may help you understand the basics - http://www.autoshop101.com/trainmodules/alternator...

Edited by Red Devil on Thursday 1st January 00:58

Looking on ebay there is several different alternators for the mr2, is there a way with it still on the car i can tell which on mine is?

Check your connector to see whether it's the oval or round type.
I see you have posted on mr2oc.co.uk. Good idea - you'll get plenty of info and help there.

[Nicko_12345]

Red Devil said:

Nicko_12345 said:

Red Devil said:

I am curious about the battery being totally flat so soon after you have started the car.
There would have to be a massive current drain for that to happen.

If the smoke is definitely from the alternator itself then it's almost certainly goosed.
Hopefully it is just the unit itself that has failed. The regulator may have packed up or more likely the windings have shorted out.

Get an auto electrician to test the circuitry if you don't have the equipment/knowledge to do it yourself.
This may help you understand the basics - http://www.autoshop101.com/trainmodules/alternator...

Edited by Red Devil on Thursday 1st January 00:58

Looking on ebay there is several different alternators for the mr2, is there a way with it still on the car i can tell which on mine is?

Check your connector to see whether it's the oval or round type.
I see you have posted on mr2oc.co.uk. Good idea - you'll get plenty of info and help there.

Thank you, can i check the connector without removing it from the car?

[Nicko_12345]

i now have the car jacked up, trying to see which type it is via seeing if its a oval plug or round one, can you tell me which i should be looking at? the top cable coming out of it or the bottom which has 3 smaller cables going into one bigger cable?

Thanks

Nick

[Nicko_12345]

managed to get a new one for £90 this morning, fitting it this afternoon, hopefully it should be ok then, oh and some good news, the MR2 is now mine and is staying here

[NIKAIYO]

Hello mate, have you joined one of the Mr2 forums, www.imoc.co.uk among others? You will prob get a better more specific response from there

[Blue Meanie]

Easiest way to tell the difference is with the rear lights... Square = rev 1 + 2... Rounder lights = rev 3+... You get into more details with the different revisions. You can also tell by the spoiler... 3 piece = rev 1 + 2, one piece = rev 3 + 4... Funky adjustable one = rev 5, (I think)

[MikeyMike]

Unfortunately the only way to determine the shape of the connection is to remove the alternator. It can be either oval or round regardless of revision.

[Marf]

MikeyMike said:

Unfortunately the only way to determine the shape of the connection is to remove the alternator. It can be either oval or round regardless of revision.

Utter tosh.

Either

a) Reach down past back of the engine and unplug the cable and look (you need "japanese" arms to do this)

or

b) Jack up drivers side, reach into engine bay around subframe, disconnect plug and look.

[Nicko_12345]

MikeyMike said:

Unfortunately the only way to determine the shape of the connection is to remove the alternator. It can be either oval or round regardless of revision.

Wrong, i checked it by putting it up on ramps