right... not sure whether alternator or not?

1. jwilson2814 L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Chilton Posts: 78 Saxo VTR MK2 PB (sold) Renaultsport Clio 200 RB

   #1 27th January 2011, 15:20

   Car had its tracking done on tuesday, and wednesday this happened:
   
   i bought a battery 1 year and 2 weeks ago, with a 3 year warranty. drove a 12 mile drive to college, and a 1 mile drive to durham city from college and i had my dinner. i then went back to my car and started up, and i drove down the road. about 50 yards later, first indication of a problem, the speedo was not working..
   So i pulled over and turned it off, and went to turn it back on.... Nothing! starter motor turn, and then nothing.
   
   Managed to bump start it down a hill and had no power steering, indicators, lights, no dials working, and airbag light on, with a battery light on only. Drove about 100 yards and the power steering came back, indicators and airbag light went off aswell as the battery light. i thought i was going to be fine?
   
   About half a mile later it cut out again. Tried to restart a bump down a hill, and no starter or anything, just a click from the fuse.
   
   Mummy cam to the rescue with a 8mm, a 10mm and a new battery. Connected it, and away we go, back home. pulled up at my house, and had tea.
   
   Then went to set off to my girlfriends, about 4 miles away, and got as far as 2 miles before i lost all lights, except sidelights, (at night!!) indicators, and dial back light. I pulled over and switched her off, and it wouldnt restart again. So left it out side someones house, and recharged my original 1 year old battery over night and fitted it today and drove it to her house, where it is now. still working.
   
   now obv reaction would be alternator, but it charged the batter enought to give me dials back and indicators and electric power steering? any chance the garage could of tampered with it? also on idle, it revs to 2k on its own until you put the clutch in and take it back out (neutral) and its back to 900 revs? any ideas about that too? cheers if anything?
   
   Jack
2. user_31412 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 ★ West / North Yorkshire ★ Posts: 1653

   #2 27th January 2011, 15:24

   I would suggest the alternator is on it's way out or already gone. Go to somewhere like Halfords for a free check. Also you will want to replace, or 24 hour charge that battery now, as it has been fully discharged and will struggle to hold its full capacity.
   
   As for the 2k revving, try cleaning or replacing your idle control valve.
3. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

   #3 27th January 2011, 15:26

   Get a new Alternator, the 2K revs is because the ECU and ICV etc. aren't getting a stable power source because your Alternator is malfunctioning. If you run it with that one for too long it will blow fuses and other things so I'd change it ASAP. Simple 5min job to change it mate
   
   OH and the lights and dials going and coming back is the Alternator too.
4. jwilson2814 L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Chilton Posts: 78 Saxo VTR MK2 PB (sold) Renaultsport Clio 200 RB

   #4 27th January 2011, 15:27

   just been on the phone to a mechanic for the council who lives near my gf, and he said he'll do a test on the alternator tonight and check the power charge too, and the garage said the idle control valve could be dirty, and if it needs a new one, its a £250-300 fix? f**k that!
5. user_44477 Established Member Joined: May 2010 rotherham Posts: 1813 2001 Citroen saxo furio.

   #5 27th January 2011, 15:27

   i just went to local garage, they did it for free mate, alternator testing i mean
6. user_44477 Established Member Joined: May 2010 rotherham Posts: 1813 2001 Citroen saxo furio.

   #6 27th January 2011, 15:27

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by jwilson2814 just been on the phone to a mechanic for the council who lives near my gf, and he said he'll do a test on the alternator tonight and check the power charge too, and the garage said the idle control valve could be dirty, and if it needs a new one, its a £250-300 fix? f**k that!

   dont pay that mate, easy job to do, theres a guide on here somewhere im sure. I cleaned mine with carb cleaner from halfords, and it sorted my idle problem.
7. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

   #7 27th January 2011, 15:28

   Around £120 for new Alternator, fit it yourself (5mins)
8. jwilson2814 L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Chilton Posts: 78 Saxo VTR MK2 PB (sold) Renaultsport Clio 200 RB

   #8 27th January 2011, 15:29

   found one on allcarsallparts.co.uk for £77+VAT so about £100, might have to order now! (new too)
9. user_44477 Established Member Joined: May 2010 rotherham Posts: 1813 2001 Citroen saxo furio.

   #9 27th January 2011, 15:30

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by jwilson2814 found one on allcarsallparts.co.uk for £77+VAT so about £100, might have to order now! (new too)

   i would suggest cleaning it 1st mate instead of paying for a new one, or if you know someone with same car, swap them over to check.
   
   edit: thought you were talking about icv.
10. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

    #10 27th January 2011, 15:31

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jwilson2814 found one on allcarsallparts.co.uk for £77+VAT so about £100, might have to order now! (new too)

    Make sure it's the right one and not underpowered or you'll get the same problems as with the malfunctioning one.
11. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

    #11 27th January 2011, 15:31

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by leeham987 i would suggest cleaning it 1st mate instead of paying for a new one, or if you know someone with same car, swap them over to check.

    I thought he meant Alternator? Lol.
12. jwilson2814 L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Chilton Posts: 78 Saxo VTR MK2 PB (sold) Renaultsport Clio 200 RB

    #12 27th January 2011, 15:33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bikekid450 I thought he meant Alternator? Lol.

    haha, ill make sure wat amp it is before hand tonight, i hope its ok, i love it!!!
13. user_44477 Established Member Joined: May 2010 rotherham Posts: 1813 2001 Citroen saxo furio.

    #13 27th January 2011, 15:34

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bikekid450 I thought he meant Alternator? Lol.

    
    lol think he did, but he mentioned icv earlier, confused
14. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

    #14 27th January 2011, 15:34

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jwilson2814 haha, ill make sure wat amp it is before hand tonight, i hope its ok, i love it!!!

    You did mean Alternator!
    
    And good, it'll be fine if you love a Saxo it'll love you back lol.
15. jwilson2814 L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Chilton Posts: 78 Saxo VTR MK2 PB (sold) Renaultsport Clio 200 RB

    #15 27th January 2011, 15:35

    it better, i treat it to wax's all the time, and backrubs
16. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

    #16 27th January 2011, 15:37

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jwilson2814 it better, i treat it to wax's all the time, and backrubs

    Lmao, pure love...
    
    Mine gets a good clean out every weekend.
17. jwilson2814 L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Chilton Posts: 78 Saxo VTR MK2 PB (sold) Renaultsport Clio 200 RB

    #17 27th January 2011, 21:04

    right, turns out the wire on top of the alternator had been trapped between the alt, and the engine, and had burnt out, getting a new one made tomorrow, think it may have been tampered with at the garage on tuesday?
18. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

    #18 27th January 2011, 21:16

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jwilson2814 right, turns out the wire on top of the alternator had been trapped between the alt, and the engine, and had burnt out, getting a new one made tomorrow, think it may have been tampered with at the garage on tuesday?

    Well, if they took it off to do what ever they was doing, they should have checked for trapped wires...
19. jwilson2814 L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Chilton Posts: 78 Saxo VTR MK2 PB (sold) Renaultsport Clio 200 RB

    #19 27th January 2011, 21:24

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bikekid450 Well, if they took it off to do what ever they was doing, they should have checked for trapped wires...

    Ino! im gunna confront them tomorrow with a jackhammer!
20. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

    #20 27th January 2011, 21:26

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jwilson2814 Ino! im gunna confront them tomorrow with a jackhammer!

    Lolol as long as it works now it's kool
21. jwilson2814 L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Chilton Posts: 78 Saxo VTR MK2 PB (sold) Renaultsport Clio 200 RB

    #21 27th January 2011, 21:31

    hopefully my mate can rebuild that wire, if not it can cost for a whole lume to the ecu! any ideas n prices for that?
22. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

    #22 27th January 2011, 21:32

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jwilson2814 hopefully my mate can rebuild that wire, if not it can cost for a whole lume to the ecu! any ideas n prices for that?

    No but it's simple to fix a wire...
23. jwilson2814 L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Chilton Posts: 78 Saxo VTR MK2 PB (sold) Renaultsport Clio 200 RB

    #23 27th January 2011, 21:34

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bikekid450 No but it's simple to fix a wire...

    he said it could be burnt out, and might not be salvagable?