Anderzander Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 My highland trip has taken an unexpected turn after 800 miles. My alternator light has come on - and nanocom is showing it’s shifting between 12.4 and 11.9 volts. I pushed on when it came on - and it took us around 40 miles - so I don’t know if it’s just running the battery down or giving a very low charge? Question is what do you think I should do? I’m in a B&B tonight - can’t stay here for long. AA Home ? Try and find get somewhere where I can order the part and wait for it? Though being in the Aberdeen area I don’t know how long that would take .. not sure I have all the tools here to do it either. Or would you drive it as far as you can ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B reg 90 Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 It depends….. once drove a mid ‘90’s Astra with a duff alternator - did about 30 miles before the spark got too weak….. then I had too walk! mechanical injected diesel - will run on with no battery voltage. Newer engines will not like it (ecu’s, electronic injectors etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B reg 90 Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 Try cleaning the brushes in the alternator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted August 16, 2021 Author Share Posted August 16, 2021 This is a Td5 so has enough electrical dependencies…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 Sounds like brushes/regulator, not sure what they are like on that alternator, are they easily removable? Often, they are just two screws, and the pull out... You may get away with cleaning them and making sue the brushes move freely. As the regulators are common parts, a local motor factor may have one, or be able to get one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 A thought, do you have amazon prime? Easy way to get next day deliveries. And at those voltages, the battery is receiving no charge at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted August 16, 2021 Author Share Posted August 16, 2021 That’s an interesting idea … are they that quick to the Highland ? I’ll have a look ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 What a pain, I could remove alternator from my double cab and post it to you on next day delivery if that would help, you would get it Wednesday morning regards Stephen 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted August 16, 2021 Author Share Posted August 16, 2021 There are some on Amazon - but not Prime by the look of it. @Stellaghost I just read your post out to my wife and she’s burst into tears .. Options are narrowing a bit - seems my AA is only to be recovered to a nearby garage. On the positive there is a LR independent with great reviews just 11 miles away. Whats putting pressure on is that we can’t stay for long at this B&B - and I don’t have many tools with me … Got to think ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 1 minute ago, Anderzander said: There are some on Amazon - but not Prime by the look of it. @Stellaghost I just read your post out to my wife and she’s burst into tears .. Options are narrowing a bit - seems my AA is only to be recovered to a nearby garage. On the positive there is a LR independent with great reviews just 11 miles away. Whats putting pressure on is that we can’t stay for long at this B&B - and I don’t have many tools with me … Got to think ! I could post the tools as well if required regards Stephen 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 @paime lives near Aberdeen he could possibly help with tools if he was available regards Stephen 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted August 16, 2021 Author Share Posted August 16, 2021 Ahhh Stephen that’s too much to ask ! It’s incredibly generous. Very very kind of you. I’m going to ring the local independent in the morning and go from there. I went to see if the Nanocom would read the voltage with the engine off - but it won’t. I’ve taken off and refitted the main wire to it, just in case it was a corroded connection - and no difference. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 1 minute ago, Anderzander said: Ahhh Stephen that’s too much to ask ! It’s incredibly generous. Very very kind of you. I’m going to ring the local independent in the morning and go from there. I went to see if the Nanocom would read the voltage with the engine off - but it won’t. I’ve taken off and refitted the main wire to it, just in case it was a corroded connection - and no difference. Honestly it's not a problem, I would need to know before midday if you would like it posting as I would need to catch the post office before 14:00 for parcel delivery, again it's not a problem, better than cutting short your holiday, pm me if you get no joy from the independent regards Stephen 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 My alternator went haywire in the middle of Spain. I found a regulator pack easily in the local factors, with the aid of Google translate. All it needed I think it was a 10mm spanner and paper clip job. The symptoms were wildly fluctuating volts all the way up to about 17V I think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 Most alternators fail because one or both brushes have worn and come to the end of their allowed travel. This then causes arcing with the slip rings, which, if you continue driving, will ruin that as well, along with the regulator. So, if one catches it early and change the brushes before they are worn out, the slip rings and bearings can usually go again. Not that any of this helps at this moment. I drove my Renault Master back from Cumbria to Kent with a generator running in the back on 12 volt, after the alternator failed and was unable to get parts or a replacement. Also, the only breakdown service worth having is Brittania Rescue IMO. If you wish, they will recover the vehicle, trailer (if fitted) and passengers to anywhere in the country without argument. Or, of course, they will take you to a local garage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted August 17, 2021 Author Share Posted August 17, 2021 Yes - some lessons learned here about recovery. Though in fairness, ones I didn’t know I needed to learn beforehand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Poore Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 @Anderzanderjust be wary of driving it if the alternator is on the way out - a friend had a regulator pack fail on his 200Tdi 90 and it failed in a way to over-voltage the battery and cause it to explode . Rare situation but still not very preferable. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 Pick up a battery charger and plug it in overnight? Should be enough to get you home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted August 17, 2021 Author Share Posted August 17, 2021 I thought about that - but I’m a long way from home, and if I can fix it we can continue with our holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 I have a regulator here but I don't suppose it'll fit a TD5 alternator ☹ Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted August 17, 2021 Author Share Posted August 17, 2021 I don’t think it’s the regulator …….there is no output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 Regulator/brush pack are very often the same thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 Could you get to a breaker's yard or used car garage specialising in 4x4s? If they have an alternator for you, I'm sure for a little extra cost they would fit it for you and put your battery on charge whilst they sort it. I had a quick Google search and there are these guys in north east Scotland, I don't know how far away that is for you but there must be several others who might be able to help you? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 Where abouts are you exactly, Autoparts in Aberden (lang stracht) could get you the parts usually pretty quickly. I can also highly recommend Jim King - Autotune out near Inverurie, he'd be able to sort you out pretty quick, there's also Northeast4x4 South of Aberdeen which are pretty good, Caldwell and Dempster in Banchory also have a bit of a Land Rover speciality. Westmill garage in Westhill also have a fair bit of defender experience as I used to use them for doing some of the bigger jobs on the mountain rescue trucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted August 17, 2021 Author Share Posted August 17, 2021 Northeast 4x4 are going to order the part and do it. Though they tried to tell me the Alternator was at the bottom on the passenger side and difficult to do. Sigh. He’ll see where it is when I get there. The B&B can’t fit us in for another night. Lots to do. I seem to be getting worse at managing stress as I get older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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