Yet another alternator debacle. Advice please . . .

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:20 pm

1. Alternator packed up Christmas Day. Bah Humbug!

2. Replaced with re-con unit.

3. Running fine until driving to work yesterday morning.

First sign of trouble was a new noise from the engine bay. Hard to describe but sounded something like I would imagine a siezed water pump or very rapid top end knocking/low oil etc . . .

Checked oil & belts, all seemed fine. Drove home, new additional noise. Only noticed this with the window open. The best I can describe is the sound of driving through a succession of small puddles, a sort of erratic swish-swish-swishswish-swish sound.

After a mile or so, the original growlings subdued at exactly the same moment the Charge & Sediment lights started glimmering into life.

Called out the nice man from the RAC to get a proffesional opinion. He assertained the alternator was only putting out 12.5v. However, he managed to get the growling noise back by tweaking the 2 wires (one blue/white, the other brown) plumbed into the loom end of the grey block connector.

The swishing remains, seemingly coming from around the turbo. Its running fine apart fom all this, no loss of power, no smoke, just wierd noises & the terror of looking at those bloody lights again.

Mrs M is fretting that we may have a money pit here.

We don't want Bongo to go -

ANY IDEAS???

please!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:25 pm

You didn't overtighten your belts when refitting the alternator did you?

Mine were overtightened when I had all my belts replaced during a service resulting in similar sounds and b*****ing up my waterpump.

Similar sort of noises before disaster struck.

Bearings in water pump spindle went...same could happen to alternator spindle bearings.

good luck

H

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:31 pm

does sound like theres been too much pressure on the alternator causing a strain on the bearing. my transit ones just packed up with the same sort of sound and my belt was too tight.
most probably no the answer you wanted chris.
did you get any warrenty with the recon one.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:32 pm

Gulp. Didn't check.

I'll find out 2morrow. . . .

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:21 pm

Update

Well, once again the remote diagnosis from the Mighty Forum proved correct.

Despite no belts being overtightened, alternator bearing has shot itself to pieces in a little over 500 miles

To add to the pain, the bit in the old alternator - a nice sturdy needle roller - is too large to fit the teeny little hole for the 50pence worth of trash that the new one was rebuilt with.

Will be getting on to supplier in the morning. Not expecting anything in the way of compo but at least warn him he seems to have a batch of dodgy ones that could well damage his reputation.

Once again, thanks to Harry & Mike for pointing me in the right direction.

missfixit70 · Post by **missfixit70** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:25 pm

Doesn't matter what guarantess etc, it has to be "fit for purpose", quote that & trading standards, should get a positive response. If it is a trader, you have way more rights than if it's a private sale.

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:26 pm

mister munkey wrote:Update
Not expecting anything in the way of compo

Why not?

"Not of merchantable quality!"

Under the Sale of Goods Act seller is solely responsible for quality of goods sold by them.

You want a "merchantable" replacement and they want a new supplier.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:33 pm

You're right in what you're saying guys but the fix is being done FOC by an auto-electric chum, the cost of the new bearing is minimal & I really don't have the time or inclination to start anything like legal proceedings over it.

As I said, I'll let him know (nicely) he has a stock of flakey alternators.

If he makes a fuss & is awkward with me I shall be naming & shaming. If, however he decides I'm a nice guy, takes my story at face value & throws me a few quid, all the better.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:52 pm

Strange stuff bearings they well did last time I was involved
come in 3 qualities don't go for the cheapest middle are usually
good enough best are often beyond our means.

Go to a bearing factor like Swan bearings.

coco bongo · Post by **coco bongo** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:04 pm

Hope you got it sorted Mr M, and i know how you must feel with missis saying that its a money pit.

Mine says the same thing!!. Stick with it though, they cant go wrong all the time. (thats what i tell her).

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:54 pm

Called them this morning. Very positive result.

They need the part number for the correct needle roller, to replace in the 40 units they've got in stock.

In exchange they'll have my old one collected FOC & give me half my money back.

Very fair.

Only headache is the originals seem fairly hard to source. Any ideas out there on where to get a back bearing from fairly pronto?

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:53 pm

Getting a bit fed up with this now.

Can get replacement original bearings but - of course - they don't fit the shaft of the new one.

New ones seem to be an item known only to the plastacine factory in Malaysia from whence the new unit came.

So. Plan F. Getting oversized needle rollers tomorrow & will machine the casing to fit.

To add insult to injury, I've borrowed the mother-in-laws Honda Jazz to run around in. Although I feel gratitude (marginally better than taking a bus) Its the worst thing I've ever had the mis-fortune to drive. There is no more comprehensive waste of £11,000 on the planet.

I WANT MY BONGO BACK!!!!!

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:46 pm

mister munkey wrote: To add insult to injury, I've borrowed the mother-in-laws Honda Jazz to run around in. Although I feel gratitude (marginally better than taking a bus) Its the worst thing I've ever had the mis-fortune to drive. There is no more comprehensive waste of £11,000 on the planet.

Well Top Gear, 5th Gear, Honest John and all the other so-called experts all think it's a wonderful car, so it MUST be you that's wrong..........

PS I'm with you and think they are a POS as well.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:41 pm

I think it was Hammonds mum on Top Gear. So thats probably about right.

I'm at Plan G now. BongoDoc says he can fix the old alternator as it only needs new brushes & has ordered some Mitsubishi ones to come on Monday.

Thing is, I could do with a duff one to use for spares as I managed to break a couple of bits and lose some nuts & bolts taking the old one apart.

Never thought of saving it, just wanted the bearing out & was going to bin it.

Silly me!

So - Anyone localish got a dead alternator lying around that I could pinch, borrow or buy?

Peglegpete springs to mind. . . . .

Peg leg Pete · Post by **Peg leg Pete** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:39 pm

Sent you a P.M.