Stressful journey

Merlin5 · 4 Oct 2013 at 20:27

Took my mum out today in my old 307 HDi, then later on heard a vibrating sound which gradually got louder. Took a look and the alternator pulley belt had come off the wheel attached to the shaft of the alternator. It was sitting over the shaft between the small wheel and the alternator. AA came and said the alternator will need to be replaced as the shaft is broken. He reckoned a bolt would have come off today and be somewhere on the road. I was going to drive my mum home, then drive myself home. At first he suggested a recovery vehicle. But then we decided to just charge my battery and I hoped I could make both journeys. Was quite stressful during rush hour, hoping the battery would hold for the lights as it was getting dark. Fortunately I made it, phew! Didn't use anything electrical like windows or heater, and with only side lights on.

Anyway, I wasn't going to renew my AA parts and garage repair up to £500, but it turns out, I'm going to actually make use of it, a week before my membership expires! AA man was confident that this falls under the replacement and will only cost me the £35 excess. So I'm taking it to my local garage tomorrow morning who will have to ring AA breakdown repair cover to confirm the alternator needs replacing before doing the work. I think I pay them then claim it back from AA, and it takes about 21 days to be reimbursed. So that will save me money. I've no idea how much a new alternator normally costs. The garage reckons 2 hours work and they have reasonable rates, £40ph. The belt is perfect, don't know if they'll reuse it though.

Matt82 · 4 Oct 2013 at 20:36

New alt will be £100 minimum for a good brand

Merlin5 · 4 Oct 2013 at 20:41

Matt82 said:
New alt will be £100 minimum for a good brand

No doubt. Well hopefully the job will cost me £35 instead of £200+ .
Btw, the one in my car is a Valeo. Don't know if it was a good one or not.

Matt82 · 4 Oct 2013 at 21:08

An oe brand on a lot of French cars. Sounds like a great deal and you don't even have to lift a finger

Boycey0211 · 4 Oct 2013 at 21:11

Think Valeo are OEM for older pugs/citroen, generally they seem to be preferred by home mechanics if you can get the bits for a good price

e: beaten

[TW]Fox · 4 Oct 2013 at 23:23

AA guy is right, they replaced mine no quibble under the same policy a few years ago.

Usel · 5 Oct 2013 at 07:04

I've had my alternator replaced under the same policy with no problems, also a broken spring and wheel bearings, the thermostat and two new batteries.

Merlin5 · 5 Oct 2013 at 09:11

Good to hear that guys. Well, took the car into the garage at 8am, they did a scan of my AA card and took the policy claims number which I told them is only open between 9am and 12pm on saturdays so they'll need to call them by then. Then had a pleasant 5 minute stroll home and am now back in bed with my laptop and a cup of tea

They may or may not get it done today as they're really busy, so I'll either be mobile again today or monday.

Merlin5 · 5 Oct 2013 at 13:20

Matt82 said:
New alt will be £100 minimum for a good brand

Just rang the garage, they'll have it done today. £120 for the alternator and £60 + vat for labour. £193 total. I asked them which alternator, they said Lucas.

Matt82 · 5 Oct 2013 at 13:24

Nice, and how much did you pay for the AA cover?

Merlin5 · 5 Oct 2013 at 13:36

Matt82 said:
Nice, and how much did you pay for the AA cover?

I paid £164 last year 13th October for roadside, national recovery, home start and parts and garage. Then I eventually received £65 cashback from quidco. So only cost me £99. So, not a bad deal.

Matt82 · 5 Oct 2013 at 13:38

Those figures add up to one thing... WIN

Merlin5 · 5 Oct 2013 at 13:42

Matt82 said:
Those figures add up to one thing... WIN

Hehe yea. Although, the saving isn't massive. If I include the £35 excess, then I've paid £99 + £35 = £134. I normally have just home start. Home start plus the full cost of the repair £193, I've probably saved about £90. Better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick though.

rodenal · 5 Oct 2013 at 13:55

Can you claim back diagnostics costs on the AA policies or does it need to be for fault fixing?

Merlin5 · 5 Oct 2013 at 14:00

rodenal said:
Can you claim back diagnostics costs on the AA policies or does it need to be for fault fixing?

No idea tbh. Doubt it.

Merlin5 · 5 Oct 2013 at 16:26

All done. Nice new shiny alternator.

Merlin5 · 8 Oct 2013 at 10:27

Hey guys, early this morning on my way to work, the same message I had when the last alternator broke came up again on the dash, "battery charge fault" and then the battery symbol appeared. I turned my heater and lights off and the warnings soon disappeared. The new alternator looks ok from what I can see but I'm taking the car back tomorrow to be checked. What do you think could be the problem? Alternator not installed tightly enough or something like that?

TaKeN · 8 Oct 2013 at 10:49

Looks well tensioned to me in those photos. But without being able to touch it that's just a guess.

Lucas alternators are very good. I can't imagine it having gone wrong so soon. It might be a loose connection!

Matt82 · 8 Oct 2013 at 11:05

Do you own a multi meter?

Test the voltage, thatll tell you a lot

Merlin5 · 8 Oct 2013 at 11:11

TaKeN said:
Looks well tensioned to me in those photos. But without being able to touch it that's just a guess.

Lucas alternators are very good. I can't imagine it having gone wrong so soon. It might be a loose connection!

Yeah, I hope it is only a loose connection.

Could the battery itself be faulty? Earlier part of this year, there would often be no power at all and nothing when turning the key. And then a little later all would be normal again and the dashboard date and time reset itself to zero. AA couldn't find the problem back in August, but he tightened everything he could and that problem didn't come back. Could a damaged cell in the battery be the cause of both problems, and stopping it from being charged? Though I guess it would be odd NOT to be the alternator considering it's the same warning message.