E30 Zone

So yesterday i broke down in the tourer visiting relatives in Worcester. I pretty quickly realised it was the alternator. Promptly rang the RAC so i could get recovered back to Birmingham (only a couple of junctions up the M5).

The RAC guy turned up with his voltmeter, after jumping the car confirmed the diagnostics.

Anyway he gets a hammer out the van removed the airbox and give the alternator a couple of wacks and it came to life.

All sorted drove back home without issues.

I've heard of walking a stuck starter motor but never thought about it with an alternator.

Is an alternator something i can pull apart clean up and reassemble assuming bearings etc are ok? or should i just chuck a new one on?

Very intresting,maybe the brushs resume better contact?rover v8s like a tap on fuel pump too

trojen wrote:

I've heard of walking a stuck starter motor but never thought about it with an alternator.

Do you need a special lead for this or will a dog lead do

Bloody auto correct...

Yep, sounds like carbon and other shite build up stopping the bushes sliding in. Sounds like you had the last old school RAC man on the team.

Nothing a clean and maybe a new brushing pack (~£15) won't fix.

I've done this myself when one of my 190's died on me. I now keep spare bush set in the glove box.

The regulator pack is easily removed with the alternator in situ. A gentle pull on the remains of the shortest brush will stretch the copper braid holding it in place, letting it project slightly further than it was - enough extra brush to last at least six months.
This can be done by the roadside in less than 15 minutes, with the tools in the standard tool kit.