OT I swear they know. (dead car blog)

My car died, the week before the MOT is due.

Looks like a packed in alternator. It's not charging.

It ran for a time with the electrics fading away and finally coughed.
No warning lights for anything at any time.

Considering that it's not actually starting at the moment from a lack of
electric, is there anything else I can check before chucking my hard
earned at a new bit and some tools to fit it? I'm working my way through
the HBOL.

 

There are various Lucas service centres dotted around the country. If
you take your alternator in & flutter your eyelashes, they'll test it
for you, & may even bung some new brushes in if that's all it needs.

If it's totally dead, you should be able to get an exchange one from a
motor factors.

Probably worth charging the battery first though to see how healthy
that is, & sticking a multimeter across it to see if the alternator's
doing anything.

 

First thing to check is - does it have an alternator warning light? If
so, has the bulb blown? If it has, replace the bulb and see if it
charges - a lot of alternators need the current via the bulb to self
excite, the pervs.

 

But it says I have to take out the steering wheel to get in there!!
It doesn't have an 'alternator' warning light but a char... oh wait.
This is simple. The warning light is there on switch on, so the bulb
must work.

Can an optimate charge a car battery?

I've given up trying to get the alternator out for now, it's just too
bloody hot.

 

Same thing happened to my old Audi - it did flash up some interesting
logos before it finally died though.

Yes, it'll take a while though. The car should run for a while on a
fully charged battery if you keep the heater and the radio and the
lights etc off.

First thing is to charge the battery. Then get hold of a voltmeter,
measure the voltage across the battery when stopped (should be about 12
to 12.5) and when running (should be 13.5 or better).

There's a few other things it could be than a dead alternator.

 

The battery *currently* reads 11V but doesn't have enough guts to start
the car.
When it was jumped at the roadside it was sitting at about 8V with the
engine running.

When I'm feeling less like I've got heat stroke I'll haul the battery
out and get it on the optimate and let it sit overnight.

 

The hbol for this tank is full of the word 'brushes'.
Admittedly it says for the 97 model that I'm playing with accessing the
brushes requires full disassembly of the alternator housing so it
suggests getting a new unit, but they're still in there.

 

Yes, brushes.

 

Yes, but it'll take a while - as in "days".

Unfortunately it sounds like the alternator is the culprit...

 

Better to borrow (more eyebrow fluttering) a proper car battery
charger and put it on that, than try to drip fed it with an optimate.
One of the neighbours will have one ...

Me, i've got about 4. Anyone want an Absaar or a Halfords battery
charger ?

Cheers,

Paul.

 

I've got one in SW18 that's available to borrow.

 

Of course. Unless it's a brushless alternator.

Brushes are dead common on automotive alternators, being a cheap and
simple way of supplying field current to the rotor. Brushless permanent
magnet alternators are more of a bike thing and brushless self-exciting
alternators are most commonly found on mains gensets.

 

First check the fan belt, slack or missing fan belts are the most common
cause of charging failure.

Does the ignition light come on ?.
The alternator gets its field current via the ignition light bulb, so
a dud bulb will stop it charging.

Also check the brushes - a replacement set of brushes is a helluva lot
cheaper than a new alternator.

 

Thanks to all for the comments.

I've ordered a 'tested' second user part, I'm happy with the
cost/perceived value ratio and the risk. I'll have a look at the old one
when it's cool enough to breathe out there and see if it's a possible
referb for spares.

If this all goes tits up, with a full charge in the battery and a dead
alternator, is there any reason for an MOTist to A notice, B fail it?
I suppose it depends how long they take to check the beam angles

This is the car with a failed 5th gear, I'm not going to spend any
serious money keeping it running.

Job interview in the morning... maybe, just maybe I'll be able to buy
something unruined.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, The Older

Error 0x0016 - MAX_CASCADE_COUNT exceeded: Please contact your Usenet
adminstrator.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.

 

Heh.

 

Watt the **** are you on about?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Heh, eyebrow fluttering, who is she, Roger Moore ?

Good trick if you can do it.

Paul.