Alternator On The Blink - Any Advise Appreciated

ControversialMike

Hi all,

Happy Crimbo and all that.

As the title states, looks like i've got a dicky alternator.

It seems it's not kicking in when it should (start up). Instead I get a battery light and no power steering. It's only when I rev the engine that I the power steering kicks in and the light goes out. It's then fine until I turn the ignition off.

I had the AA out on boxing day and they said it was the bushes seizing, causing it to require a rev to kick it into action.

I'm hoping I can get some advise on how to resolve this issue before my 1200 mile trip on the 3rd of Jan. Ideally i'd like some to tell me it just needs a squirt of WD40 but i'm aware of the possibilities of it needing a new unit (and the costs involved)

Cheers

MikeS

get a new alternator as your power steering runs off it

AA says it is your alternator then replace it

ControversialMike

Update time:

I've found somewhere local that can replace and fit for £90 which seems reasonable however, my car now seems fine! No battery light, alternator working from start up without the need to rev the engine.

I've had to trawl a few other forums and i've found a couple of thread suggesting that it's not the bushes or the alternator at all, but possibly the connection from the "exciter" wire (?) - the wire that leads from the ignition to enable the alternator to fire up from idle speed.

I think i've worked out what this means but no idea where i'd start looking for this wire.

Any ideas for me?

astra22bertoneauto

Sounds like the electronic part of the alternator is playing up. Try cleaning the connections to it if not its about £40 to replace that bit. Had same issue with 1 of my cars but luckily i had a few spares lol

ControversialMike

Do you mean the regulator? if so, any ideas if it's accessible without removing the alt?

astra22bertoneauto

ControversialMike said:
Do you mean the regulator? if so, any ideas if it's accessible without removing the alt?

No you either have to remove alt or the inlet manifold to access it; id rather remove the alternator.

Sjdickso

If its an intermittent fault I would just get it swapped. It will always bite you when you least want it too.

ControversialMike

Well, it seems to stem from the ignition not giving it enough of a boot to kick start it. I'm gonna run it a bit longer and see if it get any worse as I just dont have the money to plough into a new alternator at the moment. Best upgrade the AA membership in the meantime eh.

Thanks for your help, Happy new year everyone.

astra22bertoneauto

The alternator on 1 of my old coupes decided to fail 85miles into a 100mile journey. I had breakdown cover etc but it still pi***d me off, being stuck at the side of the road waiting for an hour or so.

I managed to get another good alternator from a scrappy for £25.

vocky

if the dash 'alt light' is not working then the alternator is failing, replace it before you breakdown