Despite a full charge overnight, the mongrel failed to start this morning. If the alternator isn't a necessary component of the car starting, then I think the incident yesterday has FUBAR'd my battery. :(

Nope, it isn't needed to start the car. My load signal wires were both broken and it started, run a test on the battery

The alternator's definitely not needed to start a car. I think a VAG diesel won't start unless there's sufficient battery power to spin it to at least 250RPM though.

I suspect FUBAR'd battery then. Damnit! I am wondering if the one from the Estima diesel van is good enough to be used. Must compare the stats on them.

When I read the thread title I thought you were going to charge the car before hot laps and take the alternator off to save weight!

You'd be amazed how little you actually need on the engine for it to start up, especially diesels, ive started diesels up without even having intake or exhaust manifolds fitted.

Despite a full charge overnight, the mongrel failed to start this morning. If the alternator isn't a necessary component of the car starting, then I think the incident yesterday has FUBAR'd my battery. :(

No, but if you tried to charge the battery with both leads connected, then a faulty alternator can prevent the battery charging.

I'd say its needed on the car because it should have a live and an earth on it. If they arnt connected up right it would give similar symptoms to having a flat battery.

I'd say its needed on the car because it should have a live and an earth on it. If they arnt connected up right it would give similar symptoms to having a flat battery.

If you have a blown alternator fuse, the car will still start. In warm, daylight with all accessories off, it will continue to run for at least 20 miles.

Mine ran 100 miles with no electrics...

It started using a booster pack fine, so now its down local garage lady with the spare alternator and a backup battery to try, otherwise it will be a new one.

Well, she's back. Replacement alternator fitted which I had lying around (Useful! ) and also found a broken wire down around the starter motor area which meant no charge was going to the battery either! I think it was a load signal wire.

Quite odd how the alternator seized up and this wire had broken. I wonder if the wire broke and caused the alternator to seize. Either way, all sorted now.

It's not unusual for alternators to randomly pack up when theyve been left sitting unused for a long time.

My bet is the alternator was fine, the garage changed and it and was still the same so went on the hunt for why the alternator wasn't charging and found a snapped or damaged wire

Well, there was an obvious "issue" with the alternator that the pulley had unwound itself from the thread on the alternator and fallen off, so it was definitely not working right. Seized compensator or something like that.

Bare thread and pulley fell into the chassis rail. Belt still there hanging about too!

Oh dear, definitely not looking great that.