Alternator Problem
 

Hi Guys,

So currently in Brighton, nice weekend away for the missus birthday, on the way down from London the battery warning popped up and went away and then a few minutes later came on and stayed on.

I've checked the voltage through the on board computer and it's showing 11v while engine running and 12 volts with engine stopped.

I'm a long way from home and wondered if there were any simple things I could check before I try and change an alternator in a car park in Brighton or try and make it home!

Thanks

You could check and, if they are worn down, change the brushes - easier than swapping out the alternator at the roadside.

As a get you home job any replacements will do as long as they fit - I've filed some larger non related ones down in the past and not soldered them in just fitted them in front of the worn out brushes - worked a treat. ;) :D

Ilford to Brighton even with a fully charged battery in A1 condition may be pushing it though without the alternator. If you had a second fully charged battery to hand and kept all the non essentials switched off then worth a try.









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As above. Any 4mm by 6mm brushes from a factors will fit e.g. Cargo svx52.

Standard size is 4.6mm wide by 6.4mm thick by 14.5mm long. Wire length about 30mm.

I persnally would not try that journey without the main battery fully charged and a fully charged spare in the boot.

Thanks guys, how long and how difficult to change?

£3.60 from JCR www.jcrsupplies.co.uk

Not difficult, but requires patience. I would allow couple of hours.

Long 1/4 inch extensions for your socket set, a universal joint and telescopic mirror plus a torch are highly desirable. Will also require a soldering iron.

Removing the engine cover and the air intake bellows at the front makes the job easier.

Follow this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVvPzwtxdrM

Thanks for all the quick advice, I had a fiddle with the connections and tapped it a few times for good luck and warning has gone and voltage is now 14 volts! So I should be ok to get home, will strip it down and replace the brushes in the comfort of my own garage.

Thanks again :-)

When you change the brushes, check for wear on the slip ring, if its greatly stepped, when I put new brushes in my regulator, I used a rubber band to keep the brushes back to slide it on then cut it so they went into the groves.

Best of luck, but if you don't fancy soldering etc, just buy a whole new regulator, around £25, but make sure you check if its a 2 pin or 3 pin on the multi plug first.