We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Alternator failed twice within 2 years... advice please
Options
Comments
-
richardc1983 wrote: »If there is no alternator there is no charging going on so that battery will run out eventually which is the issue I experienced on the motorway.
And there was no warning that you were heading towards this catastrophic situation?
All cars from at least the 1930s have/had a light that showed a lack of charging.
That light would've been showing for some considerable time beforehand.
But then, as you say, "If I don't have my car I can't work".0 -
And there was no warning that you were heading towards this catastrophic situation?
All cars from at least the 1930s have/had a light that showed a lack of charging.
That light would've been showing for some considerable time beforehand.
But then, as you say, "If I don't have my car I can't work".
The warning light came on during my journey back from Wakefieldto Leeds, I had just started the engine and had been driving a mile or so and then the warning light came on. Knowing that at this point if I pulled over to ring the aa and turn the engine off I would be stuck so I took it straight over to my garage to get rectified. The garage backed me up and said that if I had pulled over then I would have broken down fully and I did the right thing. The garage confirmed that the alternator when failing would slowly reduce in output, but depending on what electrical items are turned on in the car if it was running at reduced output even 40% output then this maybe enough trickle charge to keep the battery charged enough to avoid a dash light coming on. Diesel engines use less power when running compared to a petrol engine.
As you might know yourself when your alternator goes its usually when your car wont start and that's because your battery is already dead, your never usually aware before this that there is an issue unless you happen to be driving and your light comes on.If you found my post helpful, please remember to press the THANKS button! --->0 -
I also do not feel my letter is overkill, this is with advice from trading standards also.If you found my post helpful, please remember to press the THANKS button! --->0
-
I don't think you understand automotive electrical systems. Auxiliaries like PS etc run of the engine power. You should turn off electrical items in the car to reduce the load on the battery but that wouldn't necessarily see the engine cut out.
I've had an alternator fail before, jumped the car and drove 50mile home with battery light on and didn't turn the engine off until it was parked in a position I could repair it knowing the car wouldn't start once turned off.0 -
I don't think you understand automotive electrical systems. Auxiliaries like PS etc run of the engine power. You should turn off electrical items in the car to reduce the load on the battery but that wouldn't necessarily see the engine cut out.
I've had an alternator fail before, jumped the car and drove 50mile home with battery light on and didn't turn the engine off until it was parked in a position I could repair it knowing the car wouldn't start once turned off.
Yes I think I do. As you've already said you drove 50miles. I hadn't had the battery light on previous to that but the battery hadn't been charging properly for a few weeks which we have had confirmed by all parties but not bad enough to make the battery light come on. I suspect the alternator had failed the day before as my partner said he noticed the engine revs were hunting up and down at idle and were lower than usual. This happened once when my battery was failed and I got a new battery 3/4 years before. So knew this was a sign something was up.
So let's say at this point the alternator was no longer putting out enough charge to charge or maintain the battery at all, but still no battery light which in my car only comes on when the battery is below a certain voltage. I had driven about 10miles that day with a few engine on off at various stop starts sequences. The following day we went out in the car to Wakefield. Upon starting the car my partner pointed out the revs the day before which I noticed when I was now driving. When we got to Wakefield and then came back to the car later we started the car and then the issues went downhill from there. Irrelevant to this post as its already been confirmed that the alternator had failed and the car was not at fault. There are 3 exciters on my alternator and it was nearly down to 1. As each one goes you lose more and more output/capacity but if you are not using many electrics or lights then you could probably get by for a long time. As it is I was hoping to get it sorted when I got paid. I was also told this by all parties when I asked how long it would last. The output remaining was probably enough just to keep the battery topped up enough to keep the battery light from coming on.
Your 50 miles with a fully failed alternator makes sense as that's approx the mileage done the day before & upto the issues the following day. What are you saying the engine cut out for? That never happened but power steering and other items were failing as the power ran lower and lower in the battery. If I had turned the engine off should I have pulled over then no it wouldn't have started and I knew that so took it to be sorted. The garage said though that eventually the engine would have cut out as modern Diesel engines have electronically controlled injectors and the fuel pump as well would have seized to operate. So yes it would eventually cut out but the car was shutting down everything else to keep the critical engine components running.
Let's stop debating whether you think I know or don't know about electrical systems. I know a lot as its pretty common sense really if your a technical person. Your not really contributing anything to the post currently as you keep challenging me on my knowledge when really your probably not reading my post right as I am repeating previous answers to you again. I think I've been very thorough and detailed so far. I've asked for consumer advice not technical advice as I already have all that. Don't mean to offend but your speaking to me like I am stupid when it's quite obvious I have a detailed understanding of these things.
Thank youIf you found my post helpful, please remember to press the THANKS button! --->0 -
Well I've offered advice but seems you only want people to agree with you.
simple fact is it will be treated as 2 years use, the clock doesn't start again when remedial work is undertaken.
you are not entitled to a FULL refund
you need to keep your correspondence objective, factual and to the point. There's too much waffle in it. They simply won't have the time to read it in its entirety, they'll scan read and will potentially miss crucial points you are trying to make.
Get yourself over to consumer rights board mate, there's loads of quality tips over there.0 -
Well I've offered advice but seems you only want people to agree with you.
simple fact is it will be treated as 2 years use, the clock doesn't start again when remedial work is undertaken.
you are not entitled to a FULL refund
you need to keep your correspondence objective, factual and to the point. There's too much waffle in it. They simply won't have the time to read it in its entirety, they'll scan read and will potentially miss crucial points you are trying to make.
Get yourself over to consumer rights board mate, there's loads of quality tips over there.
I was told to keep it factual which in the first letter I did. I don't want to come across that I can't answer a question. Obviously if It went to court I would rewrite it. I might not be entitled to a full refund but that's not upto me to decide. But the problem is I had the inconvenience 12 months prior and was without the car.
Thank youIf you found my post helpful, please remember to press the THANKS button! --->0 -
These type of garages assume that people know nothing about cars based on how they look (I am gay) the same goes for woman, they are ripped off or have unnecessary work done because they assume they will not challenge it. That sort of thing is forever in the media or watchdog and proven.
From this point on I just can't take you seriously. They knew you where gay from the way you looked? Unless you walk around dressed like this how could they possibly know?0 -
From this point on I just can't take you seriously. They knew you where gay from the way you looked? Unless you walk around dressed like this how could they possibly know?
Never heard of stereotyping before or assuming?If you found my post helpful, please remember to press the THANKS button! --->0 -
From this point on I just can't take you seriously. They knew you where gay from the way you looked? Unless you walk around dressed like this how could they possibly know?
Maybe op has a certain look which is commonly associated with being gay. In the same way somebody can easily put themselves across as a womaniser or as other things too.
Stereotyping is of course not fool proof, but it would seem you've been subtle in playing the 'that's a gayist comment' card - often a card waved around as soon as skin colour is brought up.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards