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argh... wat is an altenator? and how much i lookin at?

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  • 18-07-2008 2:42pm
    #1
    yummum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭


    my fantastic car is sick again!
    i have put in new rad and peices, new engine, new timing belt and now the altenator i think is gone..
    the car is charging when jumped, but then when i press clutch and try change gear it conks, it dead as dodo, not even central lockin works.
    im sooo sad :(i miss my car boohoo!!!!!!!!


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    #2
    Rovi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,570 ✭✭✭Rovi


    Get your battery (and its connections) checked by someone who knows what they're doing: motor factor or local mechanic/garage.


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    #3
    yummum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭yummum


    ya checked all connections and even checked that fan belt on right and not loose. but got a friend who kinda knows wat he doin goin to look at it tonite. but reckon il need to get the altenator thing, was wondering anyone know how much new and second hand it be...


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    #4
    Rovi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,570 ✭✭✭Rovi


    Your problem sounds like a dead battery.
    Have someone take it out of the car and test it properly by fully charging and load testing it; as I said previously, all local mechanics/garages and most good motor factors will be able to do this.
    If it's obviously damaged or faulty (broken case, oxidised/dry cells, etc), they won't even need to go that far.
    Get the battery checked out before running off to change the alternator.

    Alternators run from under €100 to over four figures, depending on application; I suspect yours would be in the €100 or so bracket.


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    #5
    JHMEG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    Alternator. (You can disconnect the battery when the engine is running and it'll still run fine, you can't do ditto with alternator)

    What make/model is the car?

    There are "brushes" in the alternator which might need replacing, tho this in unlikely. A 2nd hand alternator from a breaker is 50 to 80 euro, but it'll take a bit of skill to fit it.


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    #6
    yummum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭yummum


    well i dont know anyone in waterford, and as the sad old story goes im a single mum, and student so i not flush, in fact seriously financially embarassed at mo.
    its a 99 astra 16V 1.4l, so hopin it only a 100e but il have to wait few weeks, that why bit reluctant to go to garage cause i cant afford it at moment..
    hmmm il have to go bak to drawing board.. thanks


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    #7
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,978 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Well wait for your freind to have a look, then get back to us.

    An alt can be given a new lease of life with a fresh set of bushes and contacts.

    Mike.


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    #8
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    I'd get the battery checked. if it's the alternator try ebay


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    #9
    yummum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭yummum


    hey mike
    how do i get them...do u know a garage that not a rip off to help me


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    #10
    JHMEG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    They can be made up for about a tenner. They're not an easy fit tho and usually involve removing the alternator.

    When brushes are wearing out you get a bit of trouble in advance. It normally doesn't just die.


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    #11
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,978 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    yummum if the alt is the issue yours could be repaired by the guys at Dick McNamara Auto Electrical Repairs Waterside (near the courthouse).

    Mike.


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    #12
    yummum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭yummum


    what wud a girl do with out ye guys.
    cheers!
    il keep ya posted shud know more tonite


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    #13
    Vertakill
    Registered Users Posts: 2,262 ✭✭✭Vertakill


    I'd a very similar situation with my car and so did my brothers girlfriend.

    Everyone thought it was the alternator for both as they were both nearly identical probems with 2 different cars.

    However, my car had a loose wire in the wiring loom which meant that, intermittently, the alternator was not able to power the battery. This meant that the battery was running pretty much everything off it's own steam and the alternator was being bypassed.
    Once the wire was identified (time consuming) and was pushed back in properly, the problem completely disappeared. Had to replace the battery though because we'd killed it a few times before we figured it out.

    Brothers girlfriend was definitely the alternator and is now fixed, but these tend to only go in cars with pretty hefty mileage. If your car has low mileage you may want to look for an electrical fault, or a dodgy battery.

    The price for brothers gf's car was over €1k (parts + labour) by Audi themselves. He did it himself for approx €300, after many many hours and a lot of obscenities.

    If it's not completely fuked, they can be reconditioned for very cheap and they're nearly as good as new. There's a guy that will test yours out (provided you can take it out of your car first) for you for free out in Maynooth. He specialises in alternators afaik. Brother went to him first and so did a couple other people I know and had only good things to say about him.


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    #14
    JHMEG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,686 ✭✭✭JHMEG


    Any alternator I've seen (not saying it's them all) has only one main strap (wire) and that goes straight to the +ve on the battery. The voltage regulator is built into the alternator and there isn't even a fuse in the circuit.


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    #15
    yummum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭yummum


    cheers, but i live in waterford and at mo dont even have price of milk lol...

    i think i need to fix car and sell it, it has new radiator and attachments, new engine and new timing belt, and im a student im fed up pumpin money into car that is killing me...

    im so clueless bout cars


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