ooooooooooooops

[squariel]

just had two lights come on on my dash.
battery discharge light.
engine bay cooling fan light.

battery one i think my belt is loose, so thats easily sorted.
not sure about the other one.

[cartledge_uk]

Sounds like alternator.

Check the belts on first, then do the alternator voltage checks.

Nothing to worry about

[squariel]

limpted home watching the dash lights and they went out after a little while.
i have a squeel when first starting the car, so a new alternator belt is needed.

[cartledge_uk]

limpted home watching the dash lights and they went out after a little while.
i have a squeel when first starting the car, so a new alternator belt is needed.

If the belt is still there, then the chances are the alternator needs attention.

[squariel]

ok
thats a job for tomorrow then.

[vashy]

just had two lights come on on my dash.
battery discharge light.
engine bay cooling fan light.

battery one i think my belt is loose, so thats easily sorted.
not sure about the other one.

If your alternator doesn't spin, then both those lights will come on.

I know this from experience, after my car spat off it's belt once. A spat off belt half a mile back down the road is a bu88er to find!

[timmomr2]

lol when mine came off i just carried on driveing as usual got home and fitted a spare no big deal. you just dont want to get stuck in traffic as the fans wont come on (i dont think anyway)

[PW@Woodsport]

If the belt is intact you need to check the wiring going to the alt, do not presume alt failure, many people have been caught out that way, bought a new one and still had a problem.

Check all three wires going to the alt plug have 12v present with ignition switched on, and that the main charging cable (thick white) has not snapped off the alternator pole, this is common.

If all of the above checks out then check the charging rate, if it is between 13.5-14.5v then all is fine with the alt and the problem is on your engine bay cooling fan circuit (the cooling fan and alt warning lamps are on the same circuit, so a problem with either will light both, good eh?)

It's probably just your belt though.

[MartG]

lol when mine came off i just carried on driveing as usual

Bad idea - the same belt also drives your waterpump, so driving without it risks overheating the engine

[Tellso]

Sure i read somewhere that an alternator off an old rover or honda fitted and was a fraction the price and a lot easier to get hold of.

[PW@Woodsport]

Yep that's one of my old mods, we discovered that one way back in 2001 i think, sadly rover 214's are not easy to find now in the scrappies so the mod is a bit useless.

[Jaspa]

Squariel, I'll have an alternator available on Saturday if you need one.

[squariel]

just tightend the belt up (it was loose)
all seems well at the mo (fingers crossed)
lights all go out, no squeeling.

[cartledge_uk]

just tightend the belt up (it was loose)
all seems well at the mo (fingers crossed)
lights all go out, no squeeling.

Good job

[SuperRedMR2]

I hope my problem is belt related too...

Everytime hot or cold I turn my engine off I have a noise which can only be described as an animal dying in my engine bay...I'm hoping its just the alternator belt too...no loss in amps or no dash lights though...

[Tellso]

Is it an easy job? (tightening the belt?)

[Jaspa]

Is it an easy job? (tightening the belt?)

Yes.

10mm bolt on adjuster, loosen this. While Pushing down on alternator (careful not to crack it, apparently it's only aluminium but I've never had a problem) tighten bolt on adjust.

Bolt is found near the oil dipsick. And it is easier with a second person.

Stuart

[squariel]

mine was a 12mm head on the bolt.
but as above siiiiiiiiiimple.
take the dipstick out to give you a weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee bit more room.

[Jaspa]

Just testing
12mm it is then.

[squariel]