Car D.I.Y.
- Thread starter Drago
- Start date
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nagden
Über Member
- Location
- Normandy, France
A further update on my alternator nightmare. I have finally enlisted the help of a mobile mechanic. He has tested the car every which way and did a diagnostic. Result found nothing only the alternator is not charging. He is going to take it away next week and give it a further check with a friend who is an auto electrician.
Jameshow
Veteran
If you have a volt meter you can easily check an alternator by seeing if the voltage goes up to 14.4-7v whilst running. It will be at about 12.5v when charged.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
This above. Showed me the Aygo's alternator was charging, but we had a parasitic drain overnight. The volt metre showed the battery voltage drop little by little whilst the car was off. Some poking about under the bonnet, and I could hear a very faint hum. More poking about found a warm alternator. A diode had failed and it had effectively turned into a motor, but of course couldn't turn with the belt on. New alternator time.
Tom B
Guru
- Location
- Lancashire
Went to visit the old man today and decided to take advantage of his drive and tools and able (ancient) assistance (in passing all the wrong tools) to change one of the track rod ends that was highlighted on the MOT in March and had developed into a knock.
Genuine part came in at £20.34 so wasn't worth faffing with the unknown nobranders. Was also handy that it was exactly the same size so could count the turns off and count the turns on to keep the tracking something like.
As usual all the tricky bits went fine and the easy bits turned (nice big accessable nut) turned out to be a PITA as did the wheel nuts that had been seemingly done up with a windygun for trucks. Why don't people but a bit of copper slip on the hub mating face to stop alloys sticking? Seems I need to buy a new size of single hex socket for the nuts on this car.
I'll get the other side when its in stock. Then get the tracking done and the ditchfinders swapped off.
And how the hell can the main stealers justify £10 per wheel nut!
Genuine part came in at £20.34 so wasn't worth faffing with the unknown nobranders. Was also handy that it was exactly the same size so could count the turns off and count the turns on to keep the tracking something like.
As usual all the tricky bits went fine and the easy bits turned (nice big accessable nut) turned out to be a PITA as did the wheel nuts that had been seemingly done up with a windygun for trucks. Why don't people but a bit of copper slip on the hub mating face to stop alloys sticking? Seems I need to buy a new size of single hex socket for the nuts on this car.
I'll get the other side when its in stock. Then get the tracking done and the ditchfinders swapped off.
And how the hell can the main stealers justify £10 per wheel nut!
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nagden
Über Member
- Location
- Normandy, France
The nightmare continues. The mechanic took the car to his garage today. He could find nothing and thinks it is the fuse box or écu box. In which case it would not be viable to repair considering its age and mileage.
gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
I can't believe it! It must be a joke. I have just read that the government is going to introduce a seatbelt tax to all new cars from 2025. 
Apparently, their reason is that motorists will have to pay a tax to insure their safety when driving.
Does that mean that there will be no more fatal accidents with cars made from 2025 because the new tax will prevent that?
Apparently, their reason is that motorists will have to pay a tax to insure their safety when driving.
Does that mean that there will be no more fatal accidents with cars made from 2025 because the new tax will prevent that?
bikingdad90
Guru
Jameshow
Veteran
Car fixed egr valve replaced £488!
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Lots of car electrical issues are caused by age and contacts. Quite easily fixed with brake cleaner - it's the same stuff as electrical contact cleaner, but a fraction of the cost. Magic stuff TBH.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Oof
Leccy drivers will be along shortly to say, now't to pay for theirs, until the battery fails in 10 years..£kkk Actually £488 is much less than a months lease of a Tesla or other lecy car.
Hicky
Guru
I use it because contact clearer is readily available at work, bringing an aerosol home for a squirt then returning it is hardly corporate theft. But thanks for the heads up
Oof
Leccy drivers will be along shortly to say, now't to pay for theirs, until the battery fails in 10 years..£kkk Actually £488 is much less than a months lease of a Tesla or other lecy car.
Eh? Weird way of looking at it.
My Brother in law has just traded in his VW Toucan/Toerag or something, Having spent the month before £3000 on an EGR and turbo on his die-sel.
Then wasted money on a hybrid which he alleges to do 40 on the battery, which will be 20 miles range really.
Should have gone full electric.
Saving on running over 10 years will easily pay for my million mile battery replacement
Very true.Eh? Weird way of looking at it.
My Brother in law has just traded in his VW Toucan/Toerag or something, Having spent the month before £3000 on an EGR and turbo on his die-sel.
Then wasted money on a hybrid which he alleges to do 40 on the battery, which will be 20 miles range really.
Should have gone full electric.
Saving on running over 10 years will easily pay for my million mile battery replacement
We have a Kona EV: covered over 40,000 miles since June 2019 at an approximate cost of £600, thanks to being on Octopus Go.
Of course when the rates double (on our next annual update), so those costs will rise: maybe triple 🤷♂️
In my old XC60, that would have been £8-9k 😱
& yes, I do appreciate we are very lucky to have parking that suits this mode of transport, & had the capital to enable us to buy the car…..
