Alternator DEAD Doh!

[Berliner Beer]

Well the alternator is Dead .........Still I get a new shiny one fitted today by Rogers of Bedford  :D I will hopefuly get a post morrtem on the old alternator. I supect there was too much whaddon inside it. :oops: I was under the impression that an alternator could be submerged for short intervals, once it had drained would start to work again, you would have to rely on battery in the mean time. Is this correct. My alternator is quite low down in the engine bay. Is there any thing i can do to help my alternators when deep wading....The RAC man said and I quote " don't go off roading and dont wash it !" Cheers mate!

[Mace]

Yes, you can do something to help....

"Don't go off-road and don't wash it"   :lol:  :lol:

I've found in the past that my alternators are fine in muck and water when new. Washing them just tends to make them squeel but that said I always wash my engine bay with the engine running, never switched off. It's possible to take them apart to a certain degree and clean out the components but if the muck gets into the electronics then you tend to know about it as the dashboard light comes on 1st.

My old NAD's alternator died the 1st time I took it in water. I replaced it and the new one worked without a hickup for months. Maybe your old one was about ready to expire anyway and Whaddon just helped it along.

[EvilEd]

I always wash / jetwash out the coils and that on the alternator (I avoid the back).... if you get mud in the brushes, you'll get no charge and it's as simple as cleaning them so that they move freely against the shaft. The Regulator and that are usually in sealed units anyhow.  
As said above, keep the engine running and put a hose near it, lots of clean water will always help it. Mud is never good, wherever you get it.

[Berliner Beer]

Post mortem in............... Died of natural causes....well it was old and the water and mud finished it off. Got the bav mobile back today purrring and charging well. Thanks for everyone that offered help and advice. Cheers Darren for the use of the drive way

[davidlandy]

if u take it to your local auto electrics place they can normally fix for around £35

[Berliner Beer]

now he tells me.......LOL
Thanks

[davidlandy]

now he tells me.......LOL
Thanks

sorry m8, only just seen the post  :oops:

never mind , next time it needs doing you know - and it will go again!  mine last about 14-18 months between needing fixing. its all the mud acting like a grinding paste that quickly wears em out.

my local electric place always moans about the amount of sh*t he finds in it being the cause!

[Berliner Beer]

Cheers ....I wasnt being sarcastic honest! Thanks for the interest!

[Mace]

There's also a bloke in MK who will come and drop one off anywhere in an MK postcode for £45 if me memory serves me correctly. In fact he was the only person who could supply an alternator for me old NAD, everyone elses terminals were all wrong. Mr Benson's used him before too.

I thought it best not to mention it earlier as it was already at Rodgers  :oops: