Duff Alternator

flat-6

flat-6

flat-6

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
3,640
Location
Lancaster
My g/fs pug 405 has the battery light on dim, occasionally. I suspect duff alternator.

I told her to go to the local Hi-Q place on the way home, they just said, yeah knackered alternator, new one is £170 fitted which isn't bad as a new one is £100+vat from GSF. They didn't do any testing, which I think is a bit poor, surely it could be the battery on the way out? The did check the belt for tightness and said its not that. Just let them do it for an easy life?
 
Last edited:
How is it an easy life if changing the alternator at £170 does not solve the issue?
 
IIRC on Peugeots most of the time the battery light is actually just an alternator warning and nothing else - just labelled as such for simplicity.

Diode pack's probably on it's way out.....Or check for any corroded or damaged wiring.

Put a voltmeter across it. Easily ID.

Set the voltmeter to DC. Connect the red lead to the positive terminal and the black to the negative. With no accessories on, start the car. The voltage should register between approximately 13.5 and 14.5.

Anything less than 12 may indicate a problem. Next, turn on the headlights, air conditioner, radio and anything else that draws electrical power. Rev the engine and check the voltmeter. Again, the voltage should register around 14 volts. If you have a failing alternator, the voltage will be well below 14 volts.

With the engine off the battery should read somewhere in the region of 12 volts.
 
Last edited:
Battery was 12V at rest, started it went to 11.8V when running, revved it, it went down. Back to idle, back to 12v.

Pretty obvious conclusion, its not charging properly. No obvious wiring <problem>.
 
Last edited:
Exact same symptoms that one of my old C4s had - dropped to about 12v, alternator was only just kicking out enough to keep it going.

Couldn't get at the diode pack though to fix it myself, damned enclosed electronics!
 
flat-6 said:
they just said, yeah knackered alternator, new one is £170 fitted
Click to expand...

HOW ******* MUCH???

flat-6 said:
which isn't bad as a new one is £100+vat from GSF.
Click to expand...

*collapses, twitching on the floor*

Lord, I do love certain repair/service places. I bought a Delco alternator for my Olds a little way back, and it came out a lot cheaper than £170*. Around 6.319 minutes after the nice UPS man delivered it I had it on the car and was just finishing off retensioning the belt.

* - £60 inc VAT and shipping. And I considered that expensive....I'm struggling to imagine anything short of a classic Aston Martin that could justify a £170 alternator, even with the obscene prices that mechanics seem to be able to charge these days.
 
I don't know what engine it has but if it's an XU or XUD like I'm guessing then no, access is relatively clear - from memory it is a 2 bolt job.
 
could be a bad earth also

if the alternator is on its way way, often its just the voltage regulator. i got mine changed (and tested) for about £40, then about 20mins to fit it myself
 
Yeah its an XUD turbo. eBay price looks good, nice finds.

I think it will keep going for a while like this cos its obviously putting out just enough to keep trundling along so £170 fix seems drastic.

Think I'll head down the breakers near work tomorrow see if I can pick up an old one, Lopears right as usual, although this car has been very reliable its hard to justify that much outlay on a car worth almost nothing.
 
Last edited:
JRS said:
HOW ******* MUCH???



*collapses, twitching on the floor*

Lord, I do love certain repair/service places. I bought a Delco alternator for my Olds a little way back, and it came out a lot cheaper than £170*. Around 6.319 minutes after the nice UPS man delivered it I had it on the car and was just finishing off retensioning the belt.

* - £60 inc VAT and shipping. And I considered that expensive....I'm struggling to imagine anything short of a classic Aston Martin that could justify a £170 alternator, even with the obscene prices that mechanics seem to be able to charge these days.
Click to expand...


alternator for my mondeo v6 was £240 if i didnt swap my old one in, which brought it down to £190.........thats just the part! most places wanted £200 fitting, i got it done for 80 in the end (it's a drop subframe job on them cars =[)
 
rG-tom said:
alternator for my mondeo v6 was £240 if i didnt swap my old one in, which brought it down to £190.........thats just the part! most places wanted £200 fitting, i got it done for 80 in the end (it's a drop subframe job on them cars =[)
Click to expand...

Christ....think I shall stick to small Italian and large American cars. The parts prices seem to be vastly more sane than anything you lot drive....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom