Electrically dead....

[clipper]

Hi all,

I knew I shouldn't have said how well my car was going last week.

On sat afternoon car starts to splutter, stop at traffic lights, motor then won't rev enough to pull away (slight up hill incline), turn off motor, try to restart but dead, not even turning over.

Park car at side of road, go watch England game, wipe tears from eyes, go back to car and it starts first time. Drive 15 miles no problem.

Sunday afternoon, car starts no problem, another 15 mile journey no worries, just getting home, splutters and dies again, then as before wont start or even turn over.

Recovery turn up and jump start it no problem and tell me that the battery ain't charging, fair enough... but why will it start after sitting for 24 hours yet die completely while driving along ?

Is it more likely to be a connector rather than the alternator ?

Any explanations welcome.

[cliffybabe]

id test the alternator, be on the safe side.

I have seen more random things than that b4.

However i do see ur view totally.

Also check ur earth to the chassis make sure there no sign of corrosion or anything

[khn786]

yeh the exact same thing happens to my bmw e30 320i se.... its like its hot a mind of its own.... the other day i went to get take away from nandos, was no longer than 7mins and it wont start at all, no ticking sound no nothing... luckily some passers by help me push start the car and its was fine again..... i've put a new battery as this has been happening for some time now... put the prob still happens... yes if you push or jump start no probs but it gets annoying as you get stranded at times.... my machenics said its not the alternator but diffinatly the startor motor.. apparently the techincal term is 'lazy starter motor' he advised me for it to totally go to be certain... he also mentioned it could be a relay (eletrical fault) but he's adament its the startet motor.... on the hunt for one now, once new starter in motor i'll let u know if the prob goes.... please let me know if anyone difinatly knows wot the prob is.. thanks

[clipper]

Thanks for the thoughts.

Don't think the starter motor is likely to cause the car to die whilst driving along though...............

[clipper]

Ok alternator's off, regulator out.

The brushes are worn down to between 2 and 4 mm (the inner most one barely has 2mm protruding from the casing) and the springs are free.

It's got to be the brushes, no?

[clipper]

Can anyone tell me what the torque settings are for the alternator mounting bolts, please ?