Problems with repeated alternator failure
Discussion
The alternator on my 1995 MR2 Turbo has died three times in the past 16 months.
First time was about 2 weeks after I bought the car last May, so I bought a remanufactured alternator and fitted that. This one then failed in August, my garage confirmed it wasn't putting out a charge.
The supplier replaced it no questions asked, started up the car this morning and my dash is lit up like a christmas tree telling me my alternator is fubar again.
Could this be symptomatic of a larger problem? Or have I just been unlucky?
First time was about 2 weeks after I bought the car last May, so I bought a remanufactured alternator and fitted that. This one then failed in August, my garage confirmed it wasn't putting out a charge.
The supplier replaced it no questions asked, started up the car this morning and my dash is lit up like a christmas tree telling me my alternator is fubar again.
Could this be symptomatic of a larger problem? Or have I just been unlucky?
I don't know anything about MR2 Turbos, but there's not a heat shield missing is there? Exhaust heat on turbo cars can get pretty fierce and would certainly kill an alternator pretty quickly if it is too close to the exhaust and not adequately shielded or cooled.
Other than that, wiring shorts can kill the regulators on alternators, so there might be that possibility. Could be worth checking the actual connector on the alternator and the wiring harness that leads up to it for signs of obvious damage.
Other than that, wiring shorts can kill the regulators on alternators, so there might be that possibility. Could be worth checking the actual connector on the alternator and the wiring harness that leads up to it for signs of obvious damage.
It's on the opposite side to the turbo so probably not that, i'd take it to an auto electrician that can pinpoint exactly what the problem is with it, and maybe venture an educated opinion about what caused it.
Mine died a couple of times but I think that was my fault for slurping large quantities of oil all over it, being right below the filler. Silly boy.
Mine died a couple of times but I think that was my fault for slurping large quantities of oil all over it, being right below the filler. Silly boy.
Well after speaking to some MR2 owners who've had similar problems its possible that one of the wires feeding the plug on the alternator may be frayed, that'll show up with a quick multimeter test, each of the pins should get 12v with the engine running and the battery fully charged.
The garage who have the car think thats unlikely but I've asked them to check it nonetheless.
If thats not it then I'll replace the alternator and try and get the busted one to an auto electrician to see if they can find out whats up with it, it may just be a dodgy refurb job.
As bugalugs says the alternators on the intake side of the engine, so heat shouldnt be an issue, its not got any oil on it either.
The garage who have the car think thats unlikely but I've asked them to check it nonetheless.
If thats not it then I'll replace the alternator and try and get the busted one to an auto electrician to see if they can find out whats up with it, it may just be a dodgy refurb job.
As bugalugs says the alternators on the intake side of the engine, so heat shouldnt be an issue, its not got any oil on it either.
I used a place in crewe to do mine, can't remember the name off the top of my head but will look it up if your anywhere near. A lot of places won't strip them down nowadays and will only swap out complete refurbed units but this place just swapped out the broken bits on mine. Cost about £30 iirc. I jerry-rigged the car to run without one while it was being fixed (cue a few apollo 13 style missions watching the volt meter 
)
)I thought mine has gone as well, and when through the nightmare of taking it out (gynaecology skills required!) and stripping it down to find the slip rings and brushes were well worn. Got a refurb alternator, fitted it and and had the same issue; dash lit up like a Christmas tree and battery not charging. Eventually I found one of the wires in the loom that goes from the alternator, up through inlet manifold and on to fusebox was broken, so spliced in a new wire and it was fine from then on.
Hi Mike, yeah it seems thats a common problem.
I spoke to the Garage this morning, they've confirmed all the wiring is fine, and the alternator just isnt putting out a charge, which is the same as what happened last time.
I've ordered a replacement for the interim, and I'm going to look into getting one remanufactured by Brise so I have a known good spare should the worst happen again.
I spoke to the Garage this morning, they've confirmed all the wiring is fine, and the alternator just isnt putting out a charge, which is the same as what happened last time.
I've ordered a replacement for the interim, and I'm going to look into getting one remanufactured by Brise so I have a known good spare should the worst happen again.
Marf said:
Also if anyone knows a company who can do a quality refurb job on an alternator that'd be great, I was tempted to buy a brand new toyota item, but they want £430 and it has to come from Japan. 
TASpares in Rochester do a lot which then get rebadged as someone elses. They are in Chatham http://www.taspares.co.uk/My cousin has just had 2 dead ones & ended up going here on my advice & was impressed.
tr7v8 said:
Marf said:
Also if anyone knows a company who can do a quality refurb job on an alternator that'd be great, I was tempted to buy a brand new toyota item, but they want £430 and it has to come from Japan.
TASpares in Rochester do a lot which then get rebadged as someone elses. They are in Chatham http://www.taspares.co.uk/My cousin has just had 2 dead ones & ended up going here on my advice & was impressed.
i had a similar problem quite a few years ago with the alternator on a renault master van. i kept swapping for refurbed ones ,which would fail a few weeks later. i then had my own alternator reconditioned and it was fine after that. do not know where you are but if you are in staffs , i can give you the number of a chap who rebuilds them in newcastle under lyme.
jas xjr said:
i had a similar problem quite a few years ago with the alternator on a renault master van. i kept swapping for refurbed ones ,which would fail a few weeks later. i then had my own alternator reconditioned and it was fine after that. do not know where you are but if you are in staffs , i can give you the number of a chap who rebuilds them in newcastle under lyme.
I'm down in Sussex, but if you could give me the details that'd be great, I don't mind sending my dead alternator to the moon if it means that I'll have a good unit sent back.Right. I needed to get the car on the road ASAP so I bought a new alternator and had it fitted yesterday.
Was just out to get some petrol on my lunch break, and driving along I noticed my temp gauge was sitting a little lower than normal, then suddenly my stereo cut out.
I turned off the stereo, then flicked my lights on, as I did this the speedo needle dropped a bit, then recovered. The dash lights were dimmer than normal and went even dimmer when I put my full beams on.
Arrived back to work, and turned the car off, then started it up again. It turned over slower than usual, and the dash lights were still dim when I turned the headlights on.
Theres no warning lights on the dash, and all the fuses are fine.
What the hells going on
Was just out to get some petrol on my lunch break, and driving along I noticed my temp gauge was sitting a little lower than normal, then suddenly my stereo cut out.
I turned off the stereo, then flicked my lights on, as I did this the speedo needle dropped a bit, then recovered. The dash lights were dimmer than normal and went even dimmer when I put my full beams on.
Arrived back to work, and turned the car off, then started it up again. It turned over slower than usual, and the dash lights were still dim when I turned the headlights on.
Theres no warning lights on the dash, and all the fuses are fine.
What the hells going on
exitwound said:
Watching an MR2 being fettled for sale on Wheeler Dealers a while back, ...it also needed a new alternator, and the explanation was that MR2's suffer from water ingress through the rear lid somewhere which directly affects the alternator sited below.
I know the NA MR2s often have problems with water dripping onto the dizzy, something that the rain tray on the engine cover of the Turbo stops. That said I'll double check that its definitely not happening on my car.Thanks for the suggestion
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