Alternator Fire

Well that was fun. Monday night my freebie decided it didnt like its alternator and it set fire! Cue one AA guy (happened to be a mate I used to work with at Landrover) and disconnecting the alternator, and a short drive to the garage and its had a new alternator and a new aircon fan belt whilst it was there. Thank god for my AA parts cover as otherwise I would be £300 quid lighter!

I'll say it before anyone else does. Burn it.

I dont need to, it nearly did it itself!

That's happened to Diesel Do twice, he keeps dousing it in mud and the alternator spontaneously combusts.

I had that happen on my rally car after a water splash. They don't like water at all. That's where the V6 is good as the alternator is rite at the top of the engine well away from this destructive liquid !!

Changing the oil filter on a TD4 without covering the alternator with a rag or plastic bag doesn't help either.

It's well nigh impossible to get the filter element out quickly without dripping oil on the alternator which is exactly below the filter-housing.

SV.

Usher- let it burn.

Mine filled up with mud ground the brushes away, made a nice carbon/mud paste and shorted out!

I once had a car that had an oil leak form the rocker cover gasket and of course the leak was right above the the alternator. When the alternator went it went, smoked like hell I thought the car was in fire. Took it to get reconditioned and the guy said the in side was fill with oil. The oil then collect all particles and becomes like a grinding paste. So oil on or in an alternator is a bit of a no no.

Um - so I should stick a Tescos bag over my alternator before I try steam cleaning the engine then?
Or will LR install one for a mere £300?

bukko said:

Um - so I should stick a Tescos bag over my alternator before I try steam cleaning the engine then?
Or will LR install one for a mere £300?

Click to expand...

I'll install one for £200

bukko said:

Um - so I should stick a Tescos bag over my alternator before I try steam cleaning the engine then?
Or will LR install one for a mere £300?

Click to expand...

£300 is a bit steep for a plastic bag - even in these enlightened times.

I can provide one with a land rover logo!

I had the alternator on my 200 not quite catch fire, but close.
it was showing a no charge light, but on drugs charging too much so became too hot to touch.
was on a short holiday at the time,
RAC wanted £120 to fix it...

ended up being recovered home (long story)

as a fer now, I was given two Volvo alternators to try,
cleaned `em both, chose one, cut the locating/mounting case point to suit/copy old landies one, done a quick bodge to connect the main wires up,
started charging straight away.
used it fer now while new ebay orderd alternator was delivered, also bought genuine landie v belt....

well, that was in late summer
still charging,
still got to fit new landie alternator & belt.
why waste me new one as the fer now one still works..

LOL...