alternator ?
alternator ?
It has been a while since I visited this forum.
Today my car lost power, first I notice the radio has turned off the lights got weaker and the dash board illumination has been weak for a few days already.
I kept driving but it was getting difficult as there were definitely not enough sparks to run the engine properly. I made it home but I won't drive it withouth fixing first.
Does this sound like the alternator.? The battery is good as it is less than a year old.
If this is the alternator, how easy is it to fix on the road.
... a black cat did cross my way this morning and also my 2y old dropped my phone into a bowl of water. no phone, no car
Today my car lost power, first I notice the radio has turned off the lights got weaker and the dash board illumination has been weak for a few days already.
I kept driving but it was getting difficult as there were definitely not enough sparks to run the engine properly. I made it home but I won't drive it withouth fixing first.
Does this sound like the alternator.? The battery is good as it is less than a year old.
If this is the alternator, how easy is it to fix on the road.
... a black cat did cross my way this morning and also my 2y old dropped my phone into a bowl of water. no phone, no car
former BX 16 TGS Meteor Auto owner. No space or time to do own repairs. My BX is now owned by another member of this forum.
Re: alternator ?
Firstly I'd charge the battery! If you have a multimeter you could check the voltage after charging, anything somewhere towards 14v or up should be good. If you have a battery that allows cell top up with distilled, remove the caps and check the water levels. It only takes one bad cell to be a problem.
The alternator is most likely the culprit, probably dirt around the brushes or they are worn out. One rather crude 'fix' is to hit it with a sharp blow with a large hammer!. This dislodges the dirt around the brushes and will allow it to run a bit better. It is however only a temporary fix and how long it lasts is an unknown. A few years back I got an exchange alternator for £50 and the replacement was a genuine Valeo one. Look on the 'bay and also phone a few decent factors, they might have one sitting around. Worth a try on some of the alternator exchange specialists too. There was an 80 amp (6 V belt) one on the ' bay recently, I think you need the 50 amp one with the 4 V belt end spindle flange.
Replacement itself is dead easy, but disconnect the battery first and check the small lead mount position. There was an extra lead mount stud on my replacement unit, which has remained unused - some other model of BX or Pug must use it.
The alternator is most likely the culprit, probably dirt around the brushes or they are worn out. One rather crude 'fix' is to hit it with a sharp blow with a large hammer!. This dislodges the dirt around the brushes and will allow it to run a bit better. It is however only a temporary fix and how long it lasts is an unknown. A few years back I got an exchange alternator for £50 and the replacement was a genuine Valeo one. Look on the 'bay and also phone a few decent factors, they might have one sitting around. Worth a try on some of the alternator exchange specialists too. There was an 80 amp (6 V belt) one on the ' bay recently, I think you need the 50 amp one with the 4 V belt end spindle flange.
Replacement itself is dead easy, but disconnect the battery first and check the small lead mount position. There was an extra lead mount stud on my replacement unit, which has remained unused - some other model of BX or Pug must use it.
Re: alternator ?
i would be very cautious of hitting an alternator to jar the brush's, as might help with doing the same to a starter mopter,Tinkley wrote: One rather crude 'fix' is to hit it with a sharp blow with a large hammer!.
as the alternator casing/body is nowhere near as strong/tough as a starter motors is, you risk cracking the casing,
far better if you think the brush's are just stuck/sticking with carbon dust is, remove the regulator from the alternator
( fairly easy insitue on some engine variety's ) ,
then give them a good blast up into the brush holders with the likes of electrical contact cleaner, or carb/brake cleaner/compressed air,
now check if the brush's firstly have a reasonable length protruding, and if they spring back out after being pushed into there holders,
if hardly and brush protruding you will either need to fit new brush's of source a complete regulator
regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
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Re: alternator ?
Keep the Multi-meter on across the battery terminals whilst the engine is running to find out if the alternator is charging, you need a minimum 14.5v for a good charge.
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
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1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
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2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
Re: alternator ?
Well it (large lump hammer) was a technique demostrated by a roadside rescue tech - and it worked!. Looked brutal and not something I would naturally have done for the reasons you outline. Still that alternator went for exchange....citronut wrote:i would be very cautious of hitting an alternator to jar the brush's, as might help with doing the same to a starter mopter,Tinkley wrote: One rather crude 'fix' is to hit it with a sharp blow with a large hammer!.
as the alternator casing/body is nowhere near as strong/tough as a starter motors is, you risk cracking the casing,
Did not look too easy to do the brushes on the alternator, the starter motor I have done, all £1.60 of brushes.
- MULLEY
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Re: alternator ?
I bashed the TXD's alternator for a few years, it was fine.
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
Re: alternator ?
I have a busy time with house renovation, school runs and work so I found a mobile mechanic who fixed a newly refurbished alternator on the same day. All fine now
former BX 16 TGS Meteor Auto owner. No space or time to do own repairs. My BX is now owned by another member of this forum.
Re: alternator ?
Good to know you got it sorted. Well diagnosed too, you will appreciate the better fuel economy as well...
Re: alternator ?
I always keep a spare one handy after having had 2 fail on long journeys to Cornwall. I get them locally reconditioned so that i know it will work rather than relying on those from ebay which ive had go wrong in a couple of hours after fitting.
Andy
Andy
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Re: alternator ?
Tinkley wrote: you will appreciate the better fuel economy as well...
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
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Re: alternator ?
Same with the grey TZD's - a smart tap on the end of a bit of wood held on the casing, ideally with the engine running. Managed to put off replacing it for at least a couple of years after it first started playing up. Eventually the slip rings and/or brushes will wear out completely though. If you're handy with a soldering iron, replacement brushes, slip rings and bearings are cheap enough. I've got several alternators waiting for rebuilding, and I think the parts cost about a tenner per alternator.MULLEY wrote:I bashed the TXD's alternator for a few years, it was fine.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
Re: alternator ?
When the alternator does start to 'go' the output is not good enough for a healthy spark on the ignition circuit. I believe the OP's car is a petrol as per the comment 'not enough sparks to run my engine'. When mine started playing up, one of the signs was poor fuel consumption...Defender110 wrote:Tinkley wrote: you will appreciate the better fuel economy as well...
Rather assumed a diesel won't need the sparks as long as it turns over OK!.
Re: alternator ?
Ive run a diesel from Cornwall twice with a completely buggered alternator. None of the elecrics would work, hand signals only and she got me home all the way. Just was careful not to stall her.
Andy
Andy