Alternator on fire

[Austin-182]

Evening all,

The stop and battery light have been on my 182 for a while now. I put a new battery on a couple weeks ago hoping that would be the issue, which it wasnt. I dont use the 182 as a daily anymore so havnt drove it much sine the new battery went on.

It has been starting fine without any issues.

Today i moved the car off the drive to wash and while doing the wheels i noticed a strong smell of fire and then smoke coming from the engine bay area. Luckily i had the hose ready with me so managed to squirt the alternator to stop any flames going up. I also have always kept a spanner in the glove box incase of battery failure so managed to disconect the battery straight away.

The issue i now have is that i cant drive to a garage to have it fixed so im going to try and find someone who can come to me at home to fix it.

Will i need to put a new aux belt on? I had the major service done last year and have covered around 2k miles only since then.

Thanks

 

[super_ted]

Sounds like an internal short on the alternator. Luck you were there, could have lost the car to a fire.

 

[adamlstr]

How far away is your garage?

You could cut your aux belt off and drive on just the battery if it's a REALLY short distance.

 

[BoatNonce]

How far away is your garage?

You could cut your aux belt off and drive on just the battery if it's a REALLY short distance.

And be careful of temperature too, but yeah, possible.

 

[Austin-182]

How far away is your garage?

You could cut your aux belt off and drive on just the battery if it's a REALLY short distance.

I dont know who im going to take it to. Is it a specialist job or will any garage do?

 

[Austin-182]

Sounds like an internal short on the alternator. Luck you were there, could have lost the car to a fire.

Couldnt believe it. If i hadnt got the bucket and hose ready first before I moved the car it would have been up in flames!

 

[adamlstr]

And be careful of temperature too, but yeah, possible.

Aren't the water pumps driven off the timing belt on 1*2s?

I dont know who im going to take it to. Is it a specialist job or will any garage do?

New alternator and aux belt, most garages should be competent enough for that.

 

[Austin-182]

Sounds like an internal short on the alternator. Luck you were there, could have lost the car to a fire.

Aren't the water pumps driven off the timing belt on 1*2s?


New alternator and aux belt, most garages should be competent enough for that.

Will it need a full aux kit or just the belt do you know?

 

[JamesBryan]

Lucky really, as water and electrical fires don't usually mix.

 

[Austin-182]

Lucky really, as water and electrical fires don't usually mix.

I did wonder that but couldnt think of anything else to do. I think disconecting the battery massively helped stop it continuing.

 

[adamlstr]

Will it need a full aux kit or just the belt do you know?

TBH, if they're changing the alternator and the belt anyway, I'd be chucking on a new tensioner and whatever else is there.

 

[JamesBryan]

I did wonder that but couldnt think of anything else to do. I think disconecting the battery massively helped stop it continuing.

Definitely! The water would help cool it but also make the shorting worse.

 

[Austin-182]

Definitely! The water would help cool it but also make the shorting worse.

What do you mean by shorting worse? Do ypu think the water would have caused any further damage?

 

[JamesBryan]

What do you mean by shorting worse? Do ypu think the water would have caused any further damage?

It would have if you had left the battery connected.

 

[Austin-182]

It would have if you had left the battery connected.

Ah i see. Yes, i realised that needed to be disconected to stop the power supply.

 

[BoatNonce]

Aren't the water pumps driven off the timing belt on 1*2s?

I can't remember offhand, but what I do remember is Dan@SJM shredding the aux belt at Combe, cutting it off, and I'm pretty sure he had to keep stopping to prevent the engine from overheating whilst getting it back. May be wrong.

 

[Daz...]

Pretty sure the water pumps run off the aux belt.

 

[JamesBryan]

Waterpump is off the aux.

Off the cambelt on the Meganes.

 

[Mbeau]

Take the electrical connections off the alternator and cable tie them out the way. Charge your battery up fully. This will allow you to drive enough distance to a garage.
I would not advise cutting the aux belt! With the alternator disconnected it will just act as a pulley.

A decent garage should be able to change alternator fairly easily.

 

[adamlstr]

Take the electrical connections off the alternator and cable tie them out the way. Charge your battery up fully. This will allow you to drive enough distance to a garage.
I would not advise cutting the aux belt! With the alternator disconnected it will just act as a pulley.

A decent garage should be able to change alternator fairly easily.

But then you're still spinning the alternators internals and generating the heat..

 

[Mbeau]

Shouldn't do as unless it is seized. No heat will be generated otherwise. It will be an intenal fault in the alternator that caused it to ignite.
I have had the same problem(although I got an electrical burning smell as opposed to a fire) and this has worked on both occasions. Got me 12 miles home a few weeks ago.

 

[dann2707]

Wouldn't risk driving it with a shot alternator. Maybe get someone to yours from here? Someone must be able to help

 

[rctempire]

Wouldn't risk driving it with a shot alternator. Maybe get someone to yours from here? Someone must be able to help

Get a post up @Austin-182 in the wanted section. Someone will have one.

its not hard to swap an alternator, just takes some time.

 

[Amos91]

Will it need a full aux kit or just the belt do you know?

Just belt will be fine mate. I've had four new belts so far due to waterpump, pas pump & alternator (x2) failing separately.

Come to think of it the air con compressor is shot too and needs changing...

 

[Austin-182]

I can buy a new alternator from Renault. They are £180 so thats OK. I just need to find someone who can come and help me fit it. Its still sat on the drive...

 

[Austin-182]

Get a post up @Austin-182 in the wanted section. Someone will have one.

its not hard to swap an alternator, just takes some time.

I wouldnt know where to start. Is there a guide on here with pictures?

 

[adamlstr]

I can buy a new alternator from Renault. They are £180 so thats OK. I just need to find someone who can come and help me fit it. Its still sat on the drive...

There used to be a Renault guy on here, from a dealer. He gave good discounts on new Renault parts.

I remember paying in the region of £120 for an alternator for my Cup. I cant remember the name though, take a scout in the trader section.

 

[cs_dave]

There used to be a Renault guy on here, from a dealer. He gave good discounts on new Renault parts.

I remember paying in the region of £120 for an alternator for my Cup. I cant remember the name though, take a scout in the trader section.

Used to be adam from wolverhampton reno but it drove him to a brake down.

 

[pete_rawli]

Take the electrical connections off the alternator and cable tie them out the way. Charge your battery up fully. This will allow you to drive enough distance to a garage.
I would not advise cutting the aux belt! With the alternator disconnected it will just act as a pulley.

A decent garage should be able to change alternator fairly easily.

My alternator also set on fire, and I did this to get it to a garage, it was fine.