My First proper fault...alternator failure

Jamie · 2nd January 2008, 21:44

There was I bragging of near 60k trouble free miles!! should kept my mouth shut hey?

Alternator failed on my way home from Derby tonight, luckily the huge battery kept the lights and engine humming all the way home...Storming Norman from Northwich is fitting anew one at the weekend...should I get the clutch done whilst he is there? hmmmm...I think maybe.

Who has bought an original Alternator? how much and who fitted it for you?

Jamie

Phil · 2nd January 2008, 21:47

Sorry to hear that Jamie! Is your clutch causing mischief then?

Jamie · 2nd January 2008, 21:54

No clutch is fine....but I rely on my car for my income, so I am thinking hmmmm 60k miles....if i get it done now, maybe I will get another 60k trouble free miles....plus, whilst norman has it in bits...kill two birds with one stone.

CDTi · 2nd January 2008, 22:16

Shouldn't be too much in common between the alternator and clutch, I would have thought.

I think the clutch replacement is quite costly. 60K shouldn't be much on a clutch - unless its been abused or is faulty.

bluenose66 · 2nd January 2008, 22:25

Yes I had a failed alternator, cost was about £450 fitted by an x part dealer, although this was paid for by the garage whom I purchased the ZT off, begrudgingly I should add

. The lead from the Alt to batt had become loose thus causing it to 'ark' and melt !! I had all the symptons that pointed towards a duff battery.

Whilst the front end was off I had them remove the pharp, pharp horn and replaced it with a nautilus stebel 'move out of my way NOW' jobbie.

Jules · 3rd January 2008, 00:22

My Brother-In-law just had his clutch replaced on his 54 plate ZT CDTi at 46k.
But only due to the very heavy pedal giving him a bad knee in traffic.

New clutch now reasonably light. His 2 year RAC warranty surprisingly paid £500 towards the cost!!!!!

sylvester · 3rd January 2008, 08:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenose66

about

Whilst the front end was off I had them remove the pharp, pharp horn and replaced it with a nautilus stebel 'move out of my way NOW' jobbie.

Found this on Google never having heard or heard of the horn you refer to ... picture looks like a Tonka refuse truck
www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128816 - 82k -

Keith · 3rd January 2008, 16:17

Jamies leave the clutch alone till it needs doing, think of the grief Carlos had after having it done by a 'professional' his gearbox was then in and out like a yoyo

I don't worry about these things till they happen

Jamie · 3rd January 2008, 19:12

Yes on reflection, I am going to leave the clutch for now....Norm has ordered an OE alternator for me and hes doing it at the weekend....i just havent got the time.

Heres a thought though....have you ever wondered what would happen if you pushed your battery to the limit? how far will it go with the lights on and no alternator? I found out today!

I thought I would risk taking it to warrington this morning, i got five miles from work and the abs light came on...4 miles and the airbag light came on...then a low voltage warning popped up un the trip computer....then the speedo and revcounter went dead....and finally the engine started to fade just 1mile from my exit on the M6 at Thelwall...dammit. luckily I was carrying my touring battery from the caravan and I always carry jump leads...so...jump leads on to the battery and cable tied/taped into place, jump leads in to the passenger window and onto the touring battery...i got going again, tootled along the inside lane and off in to the office car park. lucky break. oh...and something else I discovered....the tailgate wont open with a flat battery...very inconvenient when you keep the jump leads in the tyre well!!!

now....what an idiot for trying to get to work on a with no alternator and on the motorway...totally stupid. I can be such a muppet some times. doh.

Jules · 4th January 2008, 00:14

Oh bad luck Jamie so near, yet so far! I thought there was an emergency tail gate release somewhere, there is on the saloon for sure!
It all depends how new the battery is & how long it will last without a charge!
The capacity ie the Amp Hour rating gradually decreases with time.

Eg A 2 year old 75 Amp hour battery is probably down to half...35 Amp Hour ish.
We are starting to have to replace batteries now on 2004 aged cars.
(some die sooner some die later)

If you have to limp home with no charge circuit, only use side lamps (headlamps briefly where necessary) and the bare minimum of electricals!

I got back safely this way on a 4 hour drive once. (not recommended but where needs must......)

2nd January 2008, 21:44	#1
Jamie Posted a thing or two In Limbo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	My First proper fault...alternator failure There was I bragging of near 60k trouble free miles!! should kept my mouth shut hey? Alternator failed on my way home from Derby tonight, luckily the huge battery kept the lights and engine humming all the way home...Storming Norman from Northwich is fitting anew one at the weekend...should I get the clutch done whilst he is there? hmmmm...I think maybe. Who has bought an original Alternator? how much and who fitted it for you? Jamie __________________ Finally given up trying to buy the last new rover V8 from Bristol, 2 years of haggling got me nowhere!

2nd January 2008, 21:47	#2
Phil This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 12,227 Thanks: 469 Thanked 523 Times in 241 Posts	Sorry to hear that Jamie! Is your clutch causing mischief then? __________________

2nd January 2008, 21:54	#3
Jamie Posted a thing or two In Limbo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	No clutch is fine....but I rely on my car for my income, so I am thinking hmmmm 60k miles....if i get it done now, maybe I will get another 60k trouble free miles....plus, whilst norman has it in bits...kill two birds with one stone. __________________ Finally given up trying to buy the last new rover V8 from Bristol, 2 years of haggling got me nowhere!

2nd January 2008, 22:16	#4
CDTi This is my second home No longer in the MGR club Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tipperary Posts: 3,933 Thanks: 35 Thanked 51 Times in 35 Posts	Shouldn't be too much in common between the alternator and clutch, I would have thought. I think the clutch replacement is quite costly. 60K shouldn't be much on a clutch - unless its been abused or is faulty. __________________ 'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

3rd January 2008, 00:22	#6
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	My Brother-In-law just had his clutch replaced on his 54 plate ZT CDTi at 46k. But only due to the very heavy pedal giving him a bad knee in traffic. New clutch now reasonably light. His 2 year RAC warranty surprisingly paid £500 towards the cost!!!!! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block

2nd January 2008, 22:25	#5
bluenose66 Loves to post MG ZT CDTI+ 135 Auto -Intake Mod 2 - EGR Bypass Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 325 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes I had a failed alternator, cost was about £450 fitted by an x part dealer, although this was paid for by the garage whom I purchased the ZT off, begrudgingly I should add . The lead from the Alt to batt had become loose thus causing it to 'ark' and melt !! I had all the symptons that pointed towards a duff battery. Whilst the front end was off I had them remove the pharp, pharp horn and replaced it with a nautilus stebel 'move out of my way NOW' jobbie.

3rd January 2008, 16:17	#8
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	Jamies leave the clutch alone till it needs doing, think of the grief Carlos had after having it done by a 'professional' his gearbox was then in and out like a yoyo I don't worry about these things till they happen

3rd January 2008, 19:12	#9
Jamie Posted a thing or two In Limbo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Yes on reflection, I am going to leave the clutch for now....Norm has ordered an OE alternator for me and hes doing it at the weekend....i just havent got the time. Heres a thought though....have you ever wondered what would happen if you pushed your battery to the limit? how far will it go with the lights on and no alternator? I found out today! I thought I would risk taking it to warrington this morning, i got five miles from work and the abs light came on...4 miles and the airbag light came on...then a low voltage warning popped up un the trip computer....then the speedo and revcounter went dead....and finally the engine started to fade just 1mile from my exit on the M6 at Thelwall...dammit. luckily I was carrying my touring battery from the caravan and I always carry jump leads...so...jump leads on to the battery and cable tied/taped into place, jump leads in to the passenger window and onto the touring battery...i got going again, tootled along the inside lane and off in to the office car park. lucky break. oh...and something else I discovered....the tailgate wont open with a flat battery...very inconvenient when you keep the jump leads in the tyre well!!! now....what an idiot for trying to get to work on a with no alternator and on the motorway...totally stupid. I can be such a muppet some times. doh. __________________ Finally given up trying to buy the last new rover V8 from Bristol, 2 years of haggling got me nowhere! Last edited by Jamie; 3rd January 2008 at 20:22..

4th January 2008, 00:14	#10
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	Oh bad luck Jamie so near, yet so far! I thought there was an emergency tail gate release somewhere, there is on the saloon for sure! It all depends how new the battery is & how long it will last without a charge! The capacity ie the Amp Hour rating gradually decreases with time. Eg A 2 year old 75 Amp hour battery is probably down to half...35 Amp Hour ish. We are starting to have to replace batteries now on 2004 aged cars. (some die sooner some die later) If you have to limp home with no charge circuit, only use side lamps (headlamps briefly where necessary) and the bare minimum of electricals! I got back safely this way on a 4 hour drive once. (not recommended but where needs must......) __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block Last edited by Jules; 4th January 2008 at 00:16..