Hey all, not been around for a while.

I've been having joyus fun breaking down and struggling through things.

Firstly i had a inner cv joint explode leaving me stranded on a bridge with a fire engine stuck behind me.

I've left my friends tonight, jumped in the car and started it. The revs have sat as they would do normally and then started climbing to 1100rpm.

Which settled down with a quick blip of the throttle, I drove up the road and got on the motorway and then had the battery warning lamp come on and go off if i used too many revs. Pulled over at the side of the motorway and had a quick look around. Nothing obvious, and i wasn't going to sit at the side of the motorway in the dark without trying to get to the next junction (Arctic lorries hurling past at 56mph is damn scary!

I got off the motorway and onto a dual carriageway which then was followed by permanent illumination and the volt guage dropping from 13.8v on my amp (identical loss of power across several cars its been in) to 11.4v. Which has slowly dwindled away to 10.8v, leaving the steering to be wrestled with at low speeds.

This is one of the most scariest things i've ever done, turning all the electrical components off and relying on street lamps and side lights to quite literally limp home. With occasional use of the dipped beams when really needed.

Doesn't sound good man. Hope it turns out to be something simple like a duff alternator or belt slippage. Keep us posted and good luck with it.

Its not a belt im affraid :(

Looks like complete failure, i think im just going to have to cut my losses. Fix it (yet again) and get shut!

Does anyone know where i could get a 2nd hand altenator on a sunday in the Sheffield/Rotherham area?

Looks like im going to be going back to vauxhall.

Edited 16 May, 201016 yr by Browny_37

id try getting rid of the amp for a start

id try getting rid of the amp for a start

I disconnected it from the battery and still have the same issues im affraid mate :(

Don't be too hasty about getting rid -- it's a lot of work you've had done by Ben with your Maxidot and cruise. Don't let someone else get the benefit of all that.

Plenty of 1.9TDI's being broken on eBay at the moment, it's well worth doing a search.

Mike

Edit -- here you go -- £40 with free post. Or collect in Dewsbury, Leeds

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SKODA-OCTAVIA-1-9-TDI-BKC-ALTERNATOR-/320532044504?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4aa132dad8

Says its for a BKC engine, I've looked on ETKA and its the same alternator for the BJB

Thanks Mike, your right. I have spent alot of money on this car.

This is the thing now, i know its not perfect. But i know its not the end of the list of problems.

Ideally it could do with a new battery and starter aswell.

I'm going to call the place in dewsbury shortly and get hold of it.

"I got off the motorway and onto a dual carriageway which then was followed by permanent illumination and the volt guage dropping from 13.8v on my amp (identical loss of power across several cars its been in) to 11.4v. Which has slowly dwindled away to 10.8v, leaving the steering to be wrestled with at low speeds."

Has this happened before in previous cars the amp has been in?? If it has I would be looking at the amp and the way it has been installed and not at the car itself?

Hope this helps.

TC

"I got off the motorway and onto a dual carriageway which then was followed by permanent illumination and the volt guage dropping from 13.8v on my amp (identical loss of power across several cars its been in) to 11.4v. Which has slowly dwindled away to 10.8v, leaving the steering to be wrestled with at low speeds."

Has this happened before in previous cars the amp has been in?? If it has I would be looking at the amp and the way it has been installed and not at the car itself?

Hope this helps.

TC

Never mate, the charge circuit is down im affraid. I've just about lost the PAS.

Edited 16 May, 201016 yr by Browny_37

I would rather be in a broken down Octy than a working Poxhall !! ;-)

Im sorry mate, but i'll have to disagree with you there.

I've had a Mk2 Astra Belmont, Mk3 Astra Hatch, Mk4 Astra 1.8 16v Hatch, Mk4 Astra Coupe Turbo and a Omega 2.6 V6 Auto before this car.

All of them put together haven't given as many issues as this car has done for me.

Sad to say really as i quite like the car, im just questioning the reliability above 100k.

Edited 16 May, 201016 yr by Browny_37

Im sorry mate, but i'll have to disagree with you there.

I've had a Mk2 Astra Belmont, Mk3 Astra Hatch, Mk4 Astra 1.8 16v Hatch, Mk4 Astra Coupe Turbo and a Omega 2.6 V6 Auto before this car.

All of them put together haven't given as many issues as this car has done for me.

Sad to say really as i quite like the car, im just questioning there reliability above 100k.

It must be said you've made electrical mods and have electrical problems?

The JD Power survey rates Skoda as the top performer for satisfaction/dealers and reliability, so self induced or not I think your case is isolated.

Check the alternator pulley. (known weak point on the passat and others)

I had mine go and had issues with full beam killing electrics, however once the pulley was changed (about £70 at a dealer as opposed to lots for an alternator) then the problems went.

Depending on where you are I have a spare battery if you want to try that.

Edited 16 May, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

The alternator pully still drives correctly (I thought it had broke until i realised i was spinning it the wrong way)

It just doesn't seem to give any power to the battery what so ever.

When i spoke in my previous post, I did mean to use the word "the" rather than "there".

It probably is a Isolated problem, my cars a 54plate which is one of the earlier mk2's. Which i believe was a fleet car given that i can see some of the outlines of the stickers on the paint work. So its probably not had the best life to start with.

As for the electrical mods, the only things i have done is to install a aftermarket headunit which has been in the car since August 2008 without an issue, and the amp has been in there just as long.

Everything has been isolated from the car tonight and the alternator removed for inspection. The problem still persists.

The alternator pully still drives correctly (I thought it had broke until i realised i was spinning it the wrong way)

It just doesn't seem to give any power to the battery what so ever.

When i spoke in my previous post, I did mean to use the word "the" rather than "there".

It probably is a Isolated problem, my cars a 54plate which is one of the earlier mk2's. Which i believe was a fleet car given that i can see some of the outlines of the stickers on the paint work. So its probably not had the best life to start with.

As for the electrical mods, the only things i have done is to install a aftermarket headunit which has been in the car since August 2008 without an issue, and the amp has been in there just as long.

Everything has been isolated from the car tonight and the alternator removed for inspection. The problem still persists.

Yeah mine still had the pulley looking as if it was working, but there is a bearing/clutch arrangement inside the pulley, so while it turns, it doesn't cause the alternator to charge. Lots of instances of this and as I said I had it with similar symptoms to yourself.

Worth asking at the garage as there are many cases of this failing (it's an easy thing to check according to my VW dealer) and some less good garages end up replacing the whole alternator at greater expense when it just isn't needed.

Edited 17 May, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

Mines not making a rattling noise, just whirs a little after you've shut the engine off. It actually still drives whilst going forward.

I've not got any tools to remove the pulley either :(