Suspected Alternator Probs

[redmaestro]

Hi All,

Since my head gasket has been repaired, my car has been running nicely. She sailed through a 700mile round trip to Great Yarmouth two weeks ago and has done me proud....... until now. Driving back from my mates house just now, I noticed the battery light was dimly lit ( it was so dim, i only noticed it as i drove under a long dark bridge). As I accellerated up to 70mph on the dual carrageway, the light became brighter. I eased off and limped home at 50mph. After a bit of research on this forum, it looks like its the alternator which has gone.

Am I right to assume this, and what can i expect to pay for one? How easy is it to replace on a 2L Efi?

Cheers
Redm

[MG MAL]

I have just had the same symptoms on my TD estate.
Yes ,you're alty is on the way out.
As you're light gets brighter with greater speed. it will fail sooner rather than later.(mine went the same day it started to get brighter!)

You will be able to get one from various factors for anything between £35 - £55 exchange depending on how expensive each factor is, but there are a couple on ebay at the moment.

I would take advantage of this and change the alty belt at the same time.

Mal.

[redmaestro]

I've just rang a couple of places in town and they both quoted me about 70 quid. How easy is it to replace?

[MGTurbo#261]

Try Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Maestro-Montego-MG-Sherpa-MG-Metro-Turbo-Alternator_W0QQitemZ4621989930QQcategoryZ27376QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Very easy to fit, also stick a new belt on it to while doing it if it hasnt been replaced for a while.

[exminiman]

should be a standard alternator.....three options...noe is buying new recon unit.....two is scrap yard( you can get one off maestro,montego,metro(rover and austin) sierras granadas escort/orion even petrol tranny van.....only prob lems you may encounter is wrong pulley(easily changed) or the alt being wrong hand....again easy to change...remove the 3 through bolts (8mm) and tap it round so it matchs your old one.....thirdly repair it....it could be just brushes/regulator pack..(5.5m bolts on triangular bit on the back of the alt.....hope this helps

[Monty O]

I repaired my alternator, cost me £18 for new brushes and carrier; but take care when refitting that the new brushes dont catch on the commutator and snap off.
The mechanical part of the alternator will far outlast the brushes.
The obvious problem with unknown second hand is how worn are the brushes.

[C191JOE]

It might be worth trying Partco if you have one near you. I got a very good dael on the last alternator bought from them.

[MaestroTurbo]

I paid £53 + vat exchange on a Unipart boxed alternator from Partco for my diesel..

[nicksmaestro06]

The other day my car was strugelling to start it was as if the battery had no power but it was full and the battery light was cumin on when revvin and it was screaching the problam was the alternator belt was not tight enough id try tht before getting a new one

THERE I HAVE TRIED MY BEST TO RECTIFY MY SPELLING g51 nav

[G51 NAV]

The other day my car was strugellin to start it was as if the battery had no power but it was full and the battery light was cumin on when revvin and it was scrsaachin the problam was the alternator bels was not tight enough id try tht before getting a new 1
Is it just me or did anyone else actually understand any of that? Are you dyslexic - which is something you have my sympathy with, I apologise unreservedly if you are - or are you just too damn lazy to write real words?

[Steve H]

I repaired my alternator, cost me £18 for new brushes and carrier; but take care when refitting that the new brushes dont catch on the commutator and snap off.
The mechanical part of the alternator will far outlast the brushes.
The obvious problem with unknown second hand is how worn are the brushes.

Thing to do is find an alternator off a scrapped car with a reasonably low mileage on the clock. There's some around that have been scrapped because of excessive rust - get an alternator off one showing 60k miles and it should be good for another 100k. I did this a couple of years ago, cost me £10 and it's been working ever since.

Steve H

[nicksmaestro06]

Sorry i will try to spell better in the future my hands couldnt keep up with what i was typing. what i was TRYING to say is i thought my alternator was about to die the battery light was coming on and the battery seemed not to be fully charged when it was. So i tightned the alternator belt and the problam was cured.