How to tell if the Alternator is Fooked???

[Covps2blue]

Guys please help!!

Driving the 182 to see my bro at uni, the car had a flat battery the day before and had to be bump started, due to me leaving the lights on for 3 hours while parked (D'oh). Driving it today however with all the s**t rain n every ting, had the wipers on, lights and heater to clear the screen, all was fine on the motorway, then clocked 48k on my millage clock, so the car needs servicing... sure enough the service light comes on, but oddly enough the radio cuts out, random lights on the dash flash, such as traction, airbag and more!! Soon as I turned the heater off or the lights it stopped, but as soon as I turned them both back on again, it did the same thing. I personally suspect a flat battery or low battery. Can I please have some thoughts coz I'm really worried about this, I hate electrical problems on French Cars!!!

^ I asked this in another thread, does this sound like an alternator fault I am really confused as to why my dashboard lights kept flashing on and off and the speedometer went all funny, going up and down.

Can someone please shed some light on this.

 

[benniboy]

Might not be of great help to you but if you live close to a halfords they can test the alternator free of charge for you. They use the same machine for testing the battery too. Just one way of helping diagnose any issues.

 

[Dunn]

put the multimeter on volts 20

then when the car is started check how many volts the battery is putting out

if the alternator is charging it it should go from about 12 to up to 14 odd

 

[Covps2blue]

Thanks Guys, Will try that tomoz then

 

[Soot1e]

How old is the battery, more than 6 years and it would be worth buying a new one anyway. There has been a few threads with exactly the same fault as yours, usually the battery, alternator or poor cable connectors.

 

[Covps2blue]

well the car is 5 years old, so I guess it might be the battery, but I have charged it up now, and will test it as above, I suppose this has all happened coz I drained the battery leaving the lights on

 

[Soot1e]

Yeh, Leaving the lights on doesn't help. If the same problems happen again the a new battery mate.

 

[crazyf00l321]

Hi There!

Just a quick one, this happened to my car aswell. Exactly how you explained it! I took it to Kwik Fit who didnt have a bleeding clue on how to replace the alternator!?? require a special bolt removal tool or something? Is this correct? Or are they just fooling around?

How much should i be looking for a new 172 alternator and how much to fit it. Should i also get a new alternator belt?

Can i still drive my car to another garage to get it fixed (by jump starting it) or will it cause extra damage somehow?

Thanks in advance

 

[Covps2blue]

Yer turns out MY alternator is Fooked!! When changing it do you have to use a new Aux belt, as mine was only changed 10k ago

 

[Covps2blue]

Also what is the best Alternator to get? Is Lucas any good??

 

[Fred@BTM]

Valeo only £209 from memory

 

[Covps2blue]

cheers Fred, is there much difference in Alternators as the Lucas 1 is only £150

 

[Covps2blue]

Is there a link with a buy it now button, coz I am struggling to find a Valeo alternator. Thanks

 

[Fred@BTM]

doubt you'll get one off ebay

every non Valeo unit i've tried has been incorect in some way, valeo is OE afterall

 

[Jonny1*2]

Service lights don't come on on 1*2s when service is due mate. Just coincidental