[Mk2] [NA] car dying

[LeesaH]

Hi,
Please help, very worried new mr2 owner!!!

Ok, the fan belt has been sqeuking for the last couple of days and today while driving in the wet a couple of lights came on and the battery seemed to be losing power. After a couple of hours parked up I set off again in the pouring rain and after about half a mile the sterio went, then the lights went and wipers stopped. Parked in nearest available place turned off engine and then wouldnt start up again, couple of dash lights come on but thats it!

Thanks guys

[Ryan S]

sounds like the belt has snapped, same happened to my tubby.

[LeesaH]

How easy is it to fix???

[Ryan S]

it's a half hour job, it's fiddly though, i done it in my driveway with a jack, from above and underneath, kinda need to be able to access from the top and bottom.

[LeesaH]

OK, will have a look tomorrow in the light!


Hope i can fix it myself as have had to leave it in a pub car park bout 20mins from my house and if i cant then i will have to get it picked up by the garage!!

Cheers bud

[Scott Barton]

Yup, sounds like it to me as well.

When the car died, basically the battery has run totally flat with all the elec things on. I am guessing you are are either getting absolutely nothing when turning the key, or just a clicking?

Easy job to do, bit fiddly as stated above, but any half decent garage should do it no prob.

[Ryan S]

yeah, if the belts hasn't snapped the alternator has packed in:):):)

[LeesaH]

Yes, if I try and start it a couple of the dash lights come on and it almost tries to start then I just get a clicking noise!


Just out of interest,any ideas how much it might cost???

Thanks guys, its much appreciated

[Ryan S]

yep it's deffo one of the two things above, it'll hopefully just be the belt,

[Dame]

Agree with all of the above, however just want to add that the belt may not have snapped, but it might be either worn or loose which means it won't turn the alternator fast enough to create the neccessary charge. Additionally when you have more load being drawn from the alternator i.e. headlights, wipers fans etc. it becomes harder to turn (you can try this for yourself by grabbing a DC electric motor, shorting out the power input terminals and observe how when you do this it's harder to turn) which means that a loose belt will struggle even more to drive it - add in a little water which will make the situation even worse, you'll end up with el flato battery!

Replacing an alternator shouldn't be too difficult - it's a right bu88er on a Turbo but eaisier on an N/A. I suspect a garage with proper ramps etc. should be able to carry out the work in an hour to an hour and a half at the most depending on of course how willing nuts etc. are to undo....

[Scouser]

Alternator of death.

I've had this twice now over my 6yrs of ownership and 2 alternators and have decided to let her go now as replacing the alternator every 3 years is just not on.

I put a new battery on thinking it was knackered but in the end it was the dreaded alt again.

What's the yellow and black wire curse that peeps mention? Can I strip down the alt and replace the rectifier?

[LeesaH]

Hi guys,

Ok, just got back from the car and the fan belt is nowhere to be seen!!!

Have got a new one and its being put on tomorrow
How relieved am I, phewwww

Thanks for all the help guys, your all stars

[bobhatton]

Alternator of death.

What's the yellow and black wire curse that peeps mention?

That is a wire that goes from the Alternator into the wiring harnes. Mine went after an engine out and there was not warning of no charge. Fitted another alternator and same problem. Lucas found it in the end and fixed it.

Bob

[Scouser]

Glad its sorted Leesah, wish mine was that simple!


Thanks for the Info bob, will check it out

[LeesaH]

Thanks Scouser
Me too

I dont normally have much luck with cars, so was very surprised it was only the fan belt.

[mattymr2]

im having very similar troubles with my car at the moment. iv got a rev 3 turbo that i recently swapped the engine on.
ive checked the alternator belt and its seems to be driving the pulleys ok and is nice and tight. another thing is the alarm started bleeping in a strange tone since getting the engine bk in, which i put down to moisture. could the alarm be causing the problems or is my alternator knackered??