LeeTrundlesLeftFoot
Member
- Posts
- 42
- Location
- Swansea, Wales, UK
So, it goes like this.
Driving home tonight, I couldnt help but notice that the dashboard lights looked dimmer than usual. I immediately suspected the alternator, as I had a brand new battery fitted just before Christmas which incidentally rectified a number of ongoing gripes I had, such as intermittent interior lights and dodgy NSF door lock.
Anyway, I digress. As I was on a mission from God (picking up a McDonalds for my offsprings tea plain double Cheeseburger meal with a strawberry shake, if youre wondering), I decided to ignore this latest feature and continued on my way.
Drove out of McDonalds drive-thru and as I came out onto the main road, the first of the dreaded warning beeps was heard. Traction failure, I was informed. My arse, I thought that wouldnt dim the dashboard lights. However, I pulled over and switched off for no other reason than after working in IT for 20-odd years, I know just how successful the old switch it off and switch it back on again advice can be.
The beast restarted but still reported the Traction failure message. Wanting to get home before the food congealed, I pulled away and had managed to travel the princely distance of about 50 yards before the next beep was sounded. Gearbox fault, she told me. My arse, I thought that wouldnt dim the dashboard lights either.
However, this was not the only message. Seconds later, I got the dreaded Airbag fault message, one which Id suffered for many months before it was fixed prior to the MOT. Shortly afterwards, the next one appeared Alternator fault. This one was the one I expected as soon as Id noticed that the dashboard lights had dimmed.
By this time, I was stuck in a queue of traffic and naturally, before I could pull over to the side of the road, the engine died and could not be resuscitated. So, there I was, in the middle of a main road, the rain absolutely pi**ing down, hazards on and no power to even pull in to the side.
Had to phone it in to AutoAid (highly recommend those guys), which resulted in a recovery truck arriving an hour later. The recovery guy's face lit up when he arrived turns out hes a massive P38 fan, and he proceeded to tell me that hes rebuilding a 51-plate HSE thats currently in bits in his garage. Also advised me on getting some Grabber ATs, but again, I digress.
Now then chums, would I be right in thinking that all of the above vehicular-related issues were probably due to failed alternator? Having owned the beast for nearly a year now, I know only too well that it could be one of a million possibilities, but Im hoping it IS the alternator as at least thatll be the cheapest fix, and one I can do myself.
Thinking about it, I suppose the saving grace is that she didnt keel over on me whilst I was going through the McDonalds drive-thru that would have caused anarchy with the local chavs, as their Clios and Corsas wouldve been lined up behind me for hours. Would probably have also given the recovery guy a bit of a challenge.
I feel much better for getting that lot off my chest most cathartic.
Oh, and the missus turned up to collect the McDonalds from me, so at least my mission wasn't a total failure.
Driving home tonight, I couldnt help but notice that the dashboard lights looked dimmer than usual. I immediately suspected the alternator, as I had a brand new battery fitted just before Christmas which incidentally rectified a number of ongoing gripes I had, such as intermittent interior lights and dodgy NSF door lock.
Anyway, I digress. As I was on a mission from God (picking up a McDonalds for my offsprings tea plain double Cheeseburger meal with a strawberry shake, if youre wondering), I decided to ignore this latest feature and continued on my way.
Drove out of McDonalds drive-thru and as I came out onto the main road, the first of the dreaded warning beeps was heard. Traction failure, I was informed. My arse, I thought that wouldnt dim the dashboard lights. However, I pulled over and switched off for no other reason than after working in IT for 20-odd years, I know just how successful the old switch it off and switch it back on again advice can be.
The beast restarted but still reported the Traction failure message. Wanting to get home before the food congealed, I pulled away and had managed to travel the princely distance of about 50 yards before the next beep was sounded. Gearbox fault, she told me. My arse, I thought that wouldnt dim the dashboard lights either.
However, this was not the only message. Seconds later, I got the dreaded Airbag fault message, one which Id suffered for many months before it was fixed prior to the MOT. Shortly afterwards, the next one appeared Alternator fault. This one was the one I expected as soon as Id noticed that the dashboard lights had dimmed.
By this time, I was stuck in a queue of traffic and naturally, before I could pull over to the side of the road, the engine died and could not be resuscitated. So, there I was, in the middle of a main road, the rain absolutely pi**ing down, hazards on and no power to even pull in to the side.
Had to phone it in to AutoAid (highly recommend those guys), which resulted in a recovery truck arriving an hour later. The recovery guy's face lit up when he arrived turns out hes a massive P38 fan, and he proceeded to tell me that hes rebuilding a 51-plate HSE thats currently in bits in his garage. Also advised me on getting some Grabber ATs, but again, I digress.
Now then chums, would I be right in thinking that all of the above vehicular-related issues were probably due to failed alternator? Having owned the beast for nearly a year now, I know only too well that it could be one of a million possibilities, but Im hoping it IS the alternator as at least thatll be the cheapest fix, and one I can do myself.
Thinking about it, I suppose the saving grace is that she didnt keel over on me whilst I was going through the McDonalds drive-thru that would have caused anarchy with the local chavs, as their Clios and Corsas wouldve been lined up behind me for hours. Would probably have also given the recovery guy a bit of a challenge.
I feel much better for getting that lot off my chest most cathartic.
Oh, and the missus turned up to collect the McDonalds from me, so at least my mission wasn't a total failure.
