Alternator problems?

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:21 pm

Coming back from Looe early this morning the windscreen wipers started to move slower and slower. Windows were the same and lights started to dim. Car would not start when engine [diesel] was turned off and had to be jumped.

Drove from Wincanton in the rain with slight difficulty, using the 'single' wipe when nesseccary and managed to arrive in Sussex without too much trouble. Lucky to get home, probably would not have done so in a petrol BX. Car again wont start so batt being charged.

I am assuming this is the alternator[ no warning lights on dash] and there didnt seem to be any other problems with the motor.

Andy

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:08 pm

Almost certainly will be the alternator, most likely just the brushes.
At least she got you home, most modern cars wouldn't have.
Hope you've had a good holiday and come back refreshed.

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:20 pm

Cheers Ken,

i thought it may be something like that. Came on quickly though, no sign of a problem before today. I have had the motor 5 years and it was replaced many years before i aquired the car so i have had my moneys worth.

Did rather well at the Shark Festival in Looe, in fact i won it with the heaviest fish, all tagged and released of course. Ready for most things now.

Best wishes.

Andy

rmattila · Post by **rmattila** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:50 pm

Does the appropriate warning light work when turning the key to the ignition position prior to starting the engine?

-Riku

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 5:26 pm

Hi Riku,

just charged up the batt fully and the charge warning light is on so it is the alternator.

Thanks.

Andy

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:47 pm

Just done the alternator, mainly with Tim's help [many thanks Tim,

will be forthcoming] and all works well.

Also prep'd the scrapper for engine removal, just a couple of engine mounts holding it in place now.

Beer o'clock methinks.

Andy

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 4:04 pm

There's more to this story ime afraid.
Went to looe in mid August and the 'new' alternator failed just this side of Exeter. Bugger or words to that effect i said. Got to Looe ok and made it home having charged up the batt whilst there.

Had the bloody thing tested back home and it was only bunging out 11.8 volts. Sent it back to the people from whom i bought it from on feebay and they fully refunded me the 55 quid i paid for it. So i had the old one rebuilt by Curd Bros in Tun Wells and fitted it today. Works fine[for now].
Cost me about 7 quid more but at least i wont have to post it back if it goes wrong.
Motto of the story, if there is one, take care buying recon items for your motor on feebay.

Andy

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 5:24 pm

Good motto! A BX diesel can quite easily be bump started - as I discovered when the Green Tiger went through a low-charging phase...

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 5:37 pm

Glad to get her back on the road since i got back from another trip last Monday. My fave drive of all my motors.
Didnt know they could be bumped, always thought diesels were a bit difficult. Good to know for the future.

Andy

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:16 pm

I manged to get mine bump started, i think it was Tim, RxBx & some others doing the shoving

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 10:12 pm

Been out in her tonight, quick visit to the pub with a mate for a beer and then to the takeway[dont cook Sat nights] and she was a real pleasure to drive. Missed her these last 3 weeks.

Andy

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 1:14 pm

it is not advisable to bump start a diesel, as you can shatter the clutch disc,

i saw this on a new customers car a few years ago, after he was sent to me to fit a new clutch,

he did not tell me he had been haveing trouble startting before the cluthch failed,

turned out he had been bump startting it for a couple of weeks,

i discoverd the non startting after fitting the new clutch, it was only then the owner told me of this problem,

which was just needing a set of glow plugs,

regards malcolm

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:27 pm

Well, I wouldn't recommend doing it every day, but it got me out of a pickle. Second gear, smooth on the clutch uptake. I think some people just jump off the clutch when trying to bump start. I can imagine that would easily cause a clutch some issues!

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:52 pm

it realy the snatch from the torque of the diesel engine fireing up that will cause the damage,

regards malcolm

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:22 pm

You mean a 1.9 n/a has torque