Alternator change

Colthebrummie said:

The emergency belt arrived Saturday and it's now fitted and working a treat. Has an emergency belt in normal circumstances it would be a bit crap because I only needed to fit it around the crank pully and the water pump pully, I thought I would have to cut lots off but I only need to cut a bit less than 2 inches off. It I had needed it to go around the alternator pully as well, it would have been too short, I'd have to join 2 together. Anyway, another question, when I last used the landy, there was over half a tank of petrol in it but the fuel guage says it is now empty. Does not having the alternator connected stop the guage working or has my petrol vanished.

Col

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So short?

Like you say useless if you wanted to run the alternator. You won't get far running the engine on just the battery unless you've got a diesel.

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As for the fuel - put a stick in the tank and see. I imagine a vehicle sitting on the street for so long could be victim of a petrol thief though

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So the big question now is =>

Have you booked an appointment with the garage or are you planning to carry on with the DIY but in a more preferential place?

Stretch said:

So short?

Like you say useless if you wanted to run the alternator. You won't get far running the engine on just the battery unless you've got a diesel.

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As for the fuel - put a stick in the tank and see. I imagine a vehicle sitting on the street for so long could be victim of a petrol thief though

######

So the big question now is =>

Have you booked an appointment with the garage or are you planning to carry on with the DIY but in a more preferential place?

Click to expand...

I'll have to have a close look at the filler cap, it's usually covered in cobwebs, that'll tell me if someone has been sniffling it. I haven't had another go myself yet cos of the continual rain. I've got to take the daughters car in tomorrow for its mot, so I'll ask about them doing the alternator, also, if it's in there, I might as well put it through an mot. It's exempt but it doesn't hurt to get one done every couple of years.

Col

Very impressed to hear you value an MOT even though it is no longer necessary for your vehicle - I do too. I think this is a very good move especially for a classic Land Rover owner with those dodgy brakes that aren't that great when in new tip top working order (for example)

Well, I gave the battery a good charge and drove it to the mot garage this morning. That temporary/emergency fan belt was useless, it seemed OK when the engine was ticking over on the drive but halfway to the garage I could smell a slight burning. The temp guage was reading normal and there is always one funny smell or another so I carried on. When I pulled in to the mot place there seemed to be a few wisps of smoke escaping from under the bonnet. The bloody belt had jumped the pullies and the engine was overheating, the smoke was actually steam comming from the rad cap. After I dropped it off I realised I hadn't reconnected the bonnet stay, I never use it, so that is probably an automatic fail unless the mechanic is good enough to reconnect it. Fretfull wait now for the phone call later today.

Col

I've taken Compo out for a couple of short drives since the new alternator and I'm not too happy. I noticed a noise that I hadn't heard before, it's almost like a clattering coming from the front of the engine. I suspect the water pump but I gave it a good groping when the fan belt was off and I couldn't feel any play and it felt smooth when I turned it by hand. I'm wondering if it is a noisy cam follower on number one. Then, a couple of days later, I had the bonnet up with the engine running, just admiring the engineering excellence as you do, when I noticed another new noise which is even louder than the other one. This is a whining noise that sounds like it's coming from the new alternator. I think I'm gonna have to slacken the belt off to see if that changes anything. One step forward, two back.

Col

Slacken the belt right off and run it for a short time to see if both noises disappear, sounds like you mechanic has overtightened when fitting the new alt.