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[sneakypenguin]

Evening guys and gals. Got a slight problem with the miggy. Last month or so the car hasn't felt right, few times I've gone to it (in this cold weather) and the battery has been as dead as a dodo. Then the revs started hunting (with the dash lights dimming as the revs drop). Thought it could be the iacv/breathers/cam covers so took it to daz on friday and everything was clean. He put on on a meter and turns out the alternator is dying a slow death.

Since then when idleing, the whole car shakes and I'm 99% sure 1 if not 2 cylinders aren't firing (sp?) and well it sounds and goes like a tractor. Anyone with a spare alternator and an afternoon free willing to give me a hand? I really don't want to use it too much in case it does any permanent damage.

Thanks for any help or advice

sp

[Darth Loo-knee]

Your alternator with all of your electrics on was not charging the battery. When nothing electrical was turned on the alternator just was in the charging area.....

However not sure the alternator would cause your car to fire on 4-5 cylinders.... that in my opinion would point to a HT problem... plugs, plug leads or dispack...

[sneakypenguin]

Hmmm, I was thinging dis pack too, I'm guessing it's the original one and it's done 98k. Out of interest how does the dis pack work? what does it do?

[Andy B]

...
 Out of interest how does the dis pack work? what does it do?

It's a solid state dizzy 

[Lazydocker]

Your alternator with all of your electrics on was not charging the battery. When nothing electrical was turned on the alternator just was in the charging area.....

However not sure the alternator would cause your car to fire on 4-5 cylinders.... that in my opinion would point to a HT problem... plugs, plug leads or dispack...

Check the battery terminal crimps

[twiglet]

I'm not trying to sell outside of the admin area, but I do have an alternator if you need one.

Sorry if I have overstepped the mark admins.  Please feel free to remove my post if I have. 

[sneakypenguin]

...
 Out of interest how does the dis pack work? what does it do?

It's a solid state dizzy 

  can you explain that in idiot proof terms  ?

they are secure and tight lazydocker.

twiglet: Thanks, if I can get a known good one in and troubleshoot from there. It may very well be a combination of alternator and dis pack (would be my luck lol)

[Ken T]

Ken

[Webby the Bear]

...
 Out of interest how does the dis pack work? what does it do?

It's a solid state dizzy 

  can you explain that in idiot proof terms  ?

they are secure and tight lazydocker.

twiglet: Thanks, if I can get a known good one in and troubleshoot from there. It may very well be a combination of alternator and dis pack (would be my luck lol)

It's just a modern ''distributor'' isn't it?

[Andy B]

.....

It's a solid state dizzy 

  can you explain that in idiot proof terms  ?

........ [/quote]

A modern electronic version of a distributor that has no moving parts. It sends a spark to each spark plug (actually 2 plugs - but one spark is wssted on an exhaust stroke) when the engine ECU tells it to.

[Andy B]

.....
It's just a modern ''distributor'' isn't it?

Yes! 

[Webby the Bear]

.....
It's just a modern ''distributor'' isn't it?

Yes! 

I'm getting there! 

[sneakypenguin]

.....

It's a solid state dizzy 

  can you explain that in idiot proof terms  ?

........

A modern electronic version of a distributor that has no moving parts. It sends a spark to each spark plug (actually 2 plugs - but one spark is wssted on an exhaust stroke) when the engine ECU tells it to.
[/quote]

thanks andy, that makes sense now, as i say it's definately not firing on all cylinders. Does it use a lot of power at all?

[Lazydocker]

...
 Out of interest how does the dis pack work? what does it do?

It's a solid state dizzy 

  can you explain that in idiot proof terms  ?

they are secure and tight lazydocker.

twiglet: Thanks, if I can get a known good one in and troubleshoot from there. It may very well be a combination of alternator and dis pack (would be my luck lol)

They may be secure and tight, but (as shown by Ken's picture) you need to check the wire into the crimp... Classic symptoms of bad connection at the crimp Trust me, it's worth checking as everyone tried telling me I had a knackered Alternator with the same symptoms

Do they or the wires get hot?

[sneakypenguin]

just had a look and the crimps are fine, no fraying or breakages and they are not hot too touch, ambiant engine temp