Hi All,
So less than a year into ownership and I already have content for the low loader thread I'll see if I can dig out the picture when I have a chance (month or two back - just haven't had a chance to assess).
Basically when driving home one day the red voltage warning light came on and slowly the voltage gauge dropped before inevitably the dashboard started lighting up and we came to a halt. Given the car was running initially the alternator was the first most logical point, but I had always been suspicious of the cheap no name battery in there so as a first step I just picked up a new Bosch S5 for a good price. That's now in, fully charged and known not to be the fault. Volts when everything is switched off are a solid 12.4v... but less than 12... 11 point something... when running... and red discharge light still illuminated. To confirm, it's not the aux belt, that is ok, so the alternator is turning, but clearly no juice is getting to the battery. It had been going flat quite easily since I bought the car which I put down to bad drain / **** battery but I now wonder if charging has been sub optimal and slowly declining for a while...
So before I order a replacement alternator (I've read the 'do not resuscitate' warnings) is there anything else I should check that could be suspect or is the diagnosis crystal?
Can I also ask if there is a recommended supplier / brand? And also if there are other jobs to tick at the same time (I'm thinking aux belt and tensioners as a min)? The job sounds simple enough in a decent home garage but if anyone is aware of any major gotchas please shout before I'm knees deep.
Thanks all, help much appreciated...
Chris
So less than a year into ownership and I already have content for the low loader thread I'll see if I can dig out the picture when I have a chance (month or two back - just haven't had a chance to assess).
Basically when driving home one day the red voltage warning light came on and slowly the voltage gauge dropped before inevitably the dashboard started lighting up and we came to a halt. Given the car was running initially the alternator was the first most logical point, but I had always been suspicious of the cheap no name battery in there so as a first step I just picked up a new Bosch S5 for a good price. That's now in, fully charged and known not to be the fault. Volts when everything is switched off are a solid 12.4v... but less than 12... 11 point something... when running... and red discharge light still illuminated. To confirm, it's not the aux belt, that is ok, so the alternator is turning, but clearly no juice is getting to the battery. It had been going flat quite easily since I bought the car which I put down to bad drain / **** battery but I now wonder if charging has been sub optimal and slowly declining for a while...
So before I order a replacement alternator (I've read the 'do not resuscitate' warnings) is there anything else I should check that could be suspect or is the diagnosis crystal?
Can I also ask if there is a recommended supplier / brand? And also if there are other jobs to tick at the same time (I'm thinking aux belt and tensioners as a min)? The job sounds simple enough in a decent home garage but if anyone is aware of any major gotchas please shout before I'm knees deep.
Thanks all, help much appreciated...
Chris