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[Andy H]

Set off this afternoon from Hastings to go to Cornwall. Got as far as Chichester before the alternator warning came up, all the instruments went to zero and various warning lights started going on and off seemingly at random 
Pulled into a layby, checked the connections & fuses but couldn't find anything obviously wrong. Restarted engine and & no warning lights  set off again & the symptoms resumed. After a few hundred yards the only light still showing was the spanner light &the engine was running sweetly so we carried on. At the next roundabout I realised that the gearbox was in 'limp home' mode (ie 3rd gear) but there didn't seem to be any immediate reason to stop so we carried on to the Rownham services on the M27 and called the AA.
The AA van appeared after about an hour and confirmed that the alternator wasn't charging made some phone calls and discovered that none of his contacts had a replacement alternator. He put in a request for a recovery lorry & left. 
About an hour later another van turned up (no recovery lorry available) & propoed to use one of his spare batteries to allow me to drive to Honiton (the edge of his patch).
I am now sat in a supermarket car park in Honiton in the dark with a knackered alternator waiting for the next AA man to materialise.
Wish me luck
PS anyone know what a new alternator should cost me?

[Lazydocker]

Typical service from the AA IME, and very poor at that

I assume you did check that the battery terminal crimps were good and sound?

[Andy B]

.....
Wish me luck
PS anyone know what a new alternator should cost me?

Good Luck. 

Sorry, no idea. 

[Andy H]

I couldn't find any poor crimps or anything that felt hot. I haven't got my multimeter with me but the first AA man .checked for voltsge drop.
They both said that they wanted to see me home but EU regulations prevent them travelling more than 100 km from their base 

[Andy H]

.....
Wish me luck
PS anyone know what a new alternator should cost me?

Good Luck. 

Thank you 

[Andy B]

.....
Wish me luck
PS anyone know what a new alternator should cost me?

Good Luck. 

Thank you 

I bet Rob G could meet you en-route with a new-to-you alternator! 

[Andy H]

At this rate we won't get home before 3am so you are probably correct 

I will be driving SWMBOs car until this is fixed & will be up this way again next week.

Where does RobG reside?

[dbug]

At this rate we won't get home before 3am so you are probably correct 

I will be driving SWMBOs car until this is fixed & will be up this way again next week.

Where does RobG reside?

Bristol

[adey2]

was he in a service van or not, did he have a stowaway or dont you know, eu laws are only if the vehicle fitted with a tacho, you allowed to run 60 miles from base without a tacho disc or card inserted or if you have card or disc in your allowed to run outside if tacho laws run to, think he was one of the lazy gits that seem to pop up who couldnt be arsed to rear load your car due to being auto then mess around to lock steering in place with straps and tow you whole distance, id be logging a complaint, i used to do the job so know rules and he having you over, aa were renound for sending patrols all over just to do a wheel change, one lad i know went 150 miles

[RobG]

.....
Wish me luck
PS anyone know what a new alternator should cost me?

Good Luck. 

Thank you 

I bet Rob G could meet you en-route with a new-to-you alternator! 

Got a V6 alternator, but couldn`t have  met en-route

[allen25]

When mine went mate, the whole car ground to an eventual halt. I had a charged battery on the front seat and jump leads out of the window and under the bonnet just to get it to the electrical specialists! Must have looked completely stupid driving up the road! Everything dies, PAS, Servo, etc you might as well be on a push bike! I remember it cisting £180 (might have been with replacement battery, memory fades)  but £180 sticks! Easy to change for yourself though but I expect you are up and running again by now!

[Andy B]

.....  but £180 sticks!  ...

If it's any consolation, I was talking to a bloke last year that'd had an alternator failure on his diesel Vectra. The recovery firm took him to the nearest repairer - Vauxhall - who replaced his alternator & presented him with a bill of £365! It had originally been over £400 but they reduced it slightly when he questioned HOW MUCH???

[Andy H]

Home now. Got in at 3.30 after taking 14 hours to travel 250 miles..........

AA man No1 had an AA book 'Advanced repair techniques' listing about £300 for a 140 Amp alternator & £400 for a 120 Amp  The thing is that if he had been able to fit a spanking new alternator there and then on a Sunday afternoon I would have happily paid for it.

DBug: how much do you want for it & can I collect it on Tuesday?

[Andy B]

Home now. ....

       

Got in at 3.30 after taking 14 hours to travel 250 miles..........

 ....

Bugger! 

[allen25]

Best of luck with it. I do remember £180 though, although it was a couple of years ago. If you are doing the job yourself, there is a recyclers network for used alternators etc, bit of a risk of course but may get you up and running. New one is best but let me know if you need the links.