So what have you done to your car today?

[Gaffers]

Drove it 23 miles up the M5 & M42 with a dead alternator and got to within 4 miles of home.

Hope you turned everything off (lights aside, if it was dark), as 19 miles isn't that far on a battery full of electricity.

It's about what I managed (admittedly, the battery failed not long afterwards, so was probably not 100%). Luckily, my commute is about 19 miles (and I had a couple of grands worth of bench power supply in the car all day charging it up).

Did somebody say they needed a bit of electrical power?    Fully charged milk float here

[Kevin Wood]

Did somebody say they needed a bit of electrical power?    Fully charged milk float here

[Kevin Wood]

Actually, a bit of an issue this morning. Decided to take the Westfield as it's a nice day, and it'll probably get SORN'ed at the end of the month. 5 miles up the road I heard something go "ping". Alternator light came on, and temperature started to rise.

Pulled over and yep, it's shed the alternator belt. Now, I normally keep a spare cable tied to the chassis, but I swapped to the spare a few months back as the original one had got a bit slack (in fairness, the belt has never adjusted up tight enough for my liking).

Looked in the tool box for something that would keep the water pump spinning to get me home. Shame I don't wear stockings, really. Ahh.. Surely not. Cable ties? Maybe, just maybe...



Worked a charm.

The alternator is supported on rubber bushes where it pivots, which always struck me as a silly idea. I think they might have perished and got a bit sloppy.

[tunnie]

Good bodge that, should last a few thousand miles 

[Kevin Wood]

Good bodge that, should last a few thousand miles 

It'll last longer than the battery, given that the alternator is not being driven any more.

[henryd]

Good bodge that, should last a few thousand miles 

It'll last longer than the battery, given that the alternator is not being driven any more.

Didn't have a pair of tights to hand then ,ah yes ,you said it was a nice day so presumably you left them off

[TheBoy]

I thought a strapping lad like your good self, Mr Wood, always wore stockings. Or is that weekend only

[TheBoy]

Saw how many dash warnings I could get on my way to Kingston this morning

Managed:
Oil level
Coolant level (WTF? and it was low)
Brake Light bulb
and obviously ABS and TC dash lights

Bugger.

[TheBoy]

On the upside, every single time I come here, the sun is always out.

[tunnie]

On the upside, every single time I come here, the sun is always out.

Kingston upon Thames? I maybe staying there for a bit while new place is sorted. It's s lovely place.

[henryd]

Saw how many dash warnings I could get on my way to Kingston this morning

Managed:
Oil level
Coolant level (WTF? and it was low)
Brake Light bulb
and obviously ABS and TC dash lights

Bugger.

I would have thought that many warning lights would render the interior lights redundant

[TheBoy]

And to top it all, bloody indicator bulb blew on way back - probably due to me changing brake/tail bulb. Fortunately before I got on motorway.

[TheBoy]

On the upside, every single time I come here, the sun is always out.

Kingston upon Thames? I maybe staying there for a bit while new place is sorted. It's s lovely place.

Yeah. I couldn't live there, the constant traffic snarls would do my nut. Plus my boggies are black again.

[05omegav6]

  Nice...

[chrisgixer]

And to top it all, bloody indicator bulb blew on way back - probably due to me changing brake/tail bulb. Fortunately before I got on motorway.

Remind me, which car is giving all this strife?