Fudge :|

No noises, no warning. Beep, then the above message, then the 'I ain't charging' light came on.

It goes off for a second on startup, but is then back on again.

It's covered by an RAC Warranty (they close at 5pm), but I was supposed to be doing a 300 mile round trip to see my son on Saturday, so just wondered if it's a horrible job on a 2.5 V6?

Hey di ho.

Gaz

Mileage? Bosch or Valeo?

Check the sprag clutch in the pulley before condemning the machine. With engine off, insert a small screwdriver into the front ventilation holes of the machine and engage a fan blade. It should turn easily clockwise but lock solid in the opposite direction. Be very careful not to damage the stator windings.

You need a splined driver to undo the ring nut securing the pulley + a Torx or spline driver to hold the rotor shaft. Which one depends on the make of machine.

No alternator can charge if it's not being driven.

rotodiesel.

Edited 29 November, 201213 yr by rotodiesel

Get a restored one, works like a charm for a low price. Could also be the alternator clutch.

Mileage? Bosch or Valeo?

Check the sprag clutch in the pulley before condemning the machine. With engine off, insert a small screwdriver into the front ventilation holes of the machine and engage a fan blade. It should turn easily clockwise but lock solid in the opposite direction. Be very careful not to damage the stator windings.

You need a splined driver to undo the ring nut securing the pulley + a Torx or spline driver to hold the rotor shaft. Which one depends on the make of machine.

No alternator can charge if it's not being driven.

rotodiesel.

Thanks RD - trust me to come along with only half a story! 52k miles, no idea which make until I lift the bonnet up - or if it's being driven :think:

Work full time, dark when I get home, no chance to look tonight as completing job application..blah, blah, blah. Now got to cycle to work tomorrow no matter the weather. Will look tomorrow night.

Writings seem to suggest the viscous fan's got to come off before it can be changed - is that right?

I did have a momentary panic earlier that it might be a front off/lock position jobbie, but I presume it was just a drama queen moment

Get a restored one, works like a charm for a low price. Could also be the alternator clutch.

I've got Brighton alternator exchange about 20 miles away and have used them before. Good service, never a problem. Unipart are on my doorstep too.

Gaz

All done under warranty and I didn't even get my hands dirty :sun:

As an aside I decided to hire a car for the trip to Weymouth on Saturday. However the only Mondeo available locally turned out to be dead, and there isn't a car in the Vauxhall range that I fit in! It's the legroom rather than the headroom that's the problem.

So we went down in my wife's Mk3 Golf. It's a manual so I can't drive it. Stonking good car though - averaged 55mph over 306 miles and 51mpg - not bad considering it was A27/M27/A31/A35.

Gaz