2 hours ago, J.R. said:

 

Absolutely not especially as there is nothing that can replace a Roomster. You need some very simple cheap repairs, anything more modern is going to need complicated and expensive attention

 

I get the impression that you are looking for validation to get rid of it, you picked the wrong place, we are fond of Roomsters here even those of us who have never owned one!

Agree completely on anything more modern, they seem to get more and more complicated for no good reason, and that the only thing that can really replace a Roomster is another Roomster. 

 

Not validation to get rid of it, just want to make sure it sensible and realistic to try to fix the faults. It sounds as  though we have 2 simple things to either do or get a garage to do, (might have to try another garage though unfortunately) , check the wire that runs to the alternator from the battery as per skomaz above, which I struggled to find yesterday, and check that the temperature lights are working correctly (which I think they are anyway). Far from getting rid, before it left us on the side of the motorway I was thinking about getting the cat and the leaky injectors fixed, if we can get it back to normal I still might.

 

And thank you everyone for your input I'm going to have another look for that wire right now..

I forgot the injectors, that could be more significant.

3 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Yeah, I'm toying with the idea of coming over to see if I can help with this.

Probably lots of life left in it.

 

 

Good on you Pete

 

I think you have read the situation well, it's not so much fixing any issues but giving a verdict that will restore confidence with the OP.

 

I wish I could surround myself with people like you!

39 minutes ago, JonLongstaff said:

I'm going to have another look for that wire right now..

I don't think this can be the problem. 

In Fabias, when this wire that energises the alternator breaks, the red charge warning light stops working. I believe your experience prior to the breakdown was that it was working.  Just turn on the ignition to the point where lots of warning lights self-test, and check that you see the red picture of a battery. If you do, that wire isn't broken.

 

 

33 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

I don't think this can be the problem. 

In Fabias, when this wire that energises the alternator breaks, the red charge warning light stops working. I believe your experience prior to the breakdown was that it was working.  Just turn on the ignition to the point where lots of warning lights self-test, and check that you see the red picture of a battery. If you do, that wire isn't broken.

 

 

That is true for all cars fitted with an alternator, which unless I'm mistaken is all cars today even some of the old classics have had their charging systems upgraded to include an alternator, a far better option than the dynamo of earlier cars.

56 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

I don't think this can be the problem. 

In Fabias, when this wire that energises the alternator breaks, the red charge warning light stops working. I believe your experience prior to the breakdown was that it was working.  Just turn on the ignition to the point where lots of warning lights self-test, and check that you see the red picture of a battery. If you do, that wire isn't broken.

 

 

Thanks Pete, just tried and the red battery light did light up as expected so I think we are at checking the alternator brushes as the next step aren't we?

 

Yes, I think that's a good idea. Not sure how easy access is. 

14 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Yes, I think that's a good idea. Not sure how easy access is. 

Looks typically difficult for anyone with normal sized hands. 🙂. I miss my 2cv….

Yes, I had a quick look at pictures of the 1.2TSI (CBZA or CBZB code?) on ebay, and there looks to be a bunch of turbo/exhaust stuff in the way of getting to the back of the alternator. It may well have to come out I should think, to access the regulator/brushpack.

 

Have you got a multimeter with which you could measure some voltages before/after starting engine?

 

 

 

 

Just to put this thread to bed. Firstly thank you for all the advice and encouragement and offer of help. An electrical specialist had a look and measured things. His verdict was a new alternator, plus the battery is weak so will probably need replacing soon if not immediately. Add that to two errors on the lambda sensors in the exhaust, (probably leaky injector related) as with the cat that should also be replaced, and shocks that should be done too and it’s time to say well done good and faithful servant to the old thing. So long and thanks for the memories old girl. All the best everyone.

@JonLongstaff are you selling or scrapping?

Hi Pete I never thought of selling it considering the state it’s in. Is it worth the effort?

I don’t want to break any forum rules here with anything else I might say so apologies if I already have. Can someone point me to the dos and donts please

I'll send you a message. 🙂

Please dont scrap a rare and sought after car for a few minor repairs, sell it to an enthusiast who can repair it, if that person turns out to be Pete even better!

So the final chapter is that the Roomster has gone off with Pete, who seems to be a throughly decent chap in real life as on the forum. Pete I hope the car got you home in one piece and I wish you many happy miles in the old dear. Now I just have to deal with the sellers remorse and accept that I will miss the old thing... All the best everyone.

It's definitely gone to a good and worthy home.

Did he resolve the charging issue or bring a spare battery with him?

Bonne Route Pete!

15 minutes ago, JonLongstaff said:

So the final chapter is that the Roomster has gone off with Pete, who seems to be a throughly decent chap in real life as on the forum. Pete I hope the car got you home in one piece and I wish you many happy miles in the old dear. Now I just have to deal with the sellers remorse and accept that I will miss the old thing... All the best everyone.

Thanks so much!

Very smooth trip home thanks. Looking forward to working on it to get it all tip-top.

(Probably for it to then be poached by my partner, who definitely likes the look of it. Guess I can always find another. 😁).

Really enjoyed meeting you and your family.

@J.R. I popped over yesterday with an A4 full of tools and a spare alternator.
Charging happily now, but new battery ordered, looks like the 13-year old original in there, and was down at about 6V on arrival yesterday.

I don't know why I am so pleased that you have bought it but I am!

I know I can't save every deserving car from the scrapheap and heaven knows I dont need another vehicle but the story of this one was really pulling at me.

I only bought the Yeti because I was bored and wanted a project, learning via Mike The Thinker that it was going to go on a transporter with all the other vehicles to Eastern Europe to be broken for spares made my mind up, it turns out to be my all time favorite vehicle and really suits my needs, I have a feeling that the Roomster will do the same for you.

Please start a thread on its resurrection starting with whatever you did to resolve the charging problem for the journey home.

@J.R. I said in the reply above yours that it was a case of swapping in a working alternator, which I found on ebay for a very good price, genuine, supposedly from a 2010 vehicle with only 35k miles or something.

Tested it by temporarily fitting it to my Polo on Friday. All fittings and connections were correct, shame I failed to notice that the pulley is offset outwards by about 10mm on a Polo one compared with this one! 😆

The belt rapidly derailed itself partially off the A/C pulley, but by the time I'd noticed that and hastily switched off, I'd confirmed that it was giving a healthy output. Belt appeared to have survived, luckily.

The swap isn't a total piece of cake on the Roomy 1.2 TSI, 'cos there's no room to extract upward, and the A/C compressor has to be dropped down to get it out downward. Lots of oil all over the engine; source(s) to be confirmed and corrected.

I will indeed start a thread in the Roomster Projects section, I think. Thanks for your interest. 🙂

I look forward to it!

I had read that you took an alternator with you but did not know if you ended up needing it and fitted it.

As an aside I keep a spare fan belt that is shorter for a non AC version of my vehicle, it will do the necessary of pumping water and charging if the original breaks but also means if my AC pulley bearing seizes or the shear plate detaches but is clattering with the straps flailing around (already happened to me) I can use the other belt bypassing the pulley.