pete_j
Active Member
I managed to flatten the battery on my 1996 110 by using the worklights for too long with the engine off (silly me!). One jump start and a 30min drive later and I thought all would be well. (Ignition light was going off, correctly.) Next day, it wouldn't start!
As I was on holiday I had no multimeter and had to assume that the battery (of unknown age) was suspect. A new battery was fitted, and all seemed OK.
A few weeks (and many starts) later...a 2hour drive to the Great Dorset Steam Fair: it started OK in the morning, but wouldn't restart once we got there. The AA chap tested it over and found no short-circuits to drain battery - also that the fan belt was OK - but discovered that no charge was being produced. Alternator was doing just enough to turn the ignition light off... (Bother!!)
The battery is fine: having bench-charged it, it will start the car happily enough. (How many times can you start a 200TDi in good condition on a new battery if it isn't being charged when you're driving?)
Diagnosis is that a replacement regulator should be sufficient, and that it should be easy enough to fit in situ.
Assuming that I have a standard unit fitted, what is the alternator (is it a Lucas A127??) and does anyone know the part number for the appropriate regulator?
(The AA chap was an ex- vehicle leccy. Said that they used to carry spares of these around, but don't any more. He also said that there were three types available, depending on the alternator: 35, 45 and 65 (amps, presumably), and that the '45' was a sensible choice as it would fit all three, but a '65' in a '35'/'45' wouldn't work as the longer brushes would snap off.)
I'll need to check the unit to confirm its identity before ordering, but was hoping to find some potential suppliers online from work first...
As I was on holiday I had no multimeter and had to assume that the battery (of unknown age) was suspect. A new battery was fitted, and all seemed OK.
A few weeks (and many starts) later...a 2hour drive to the Great Dorset Steam Fair: it started OK in the morning, but wouldn't restart once we got there. The AA chap tested it over and found no short-circuits to drain battery - also that the fan belt was OK - but discovered that no charge was being produced. Alternator was doing just enough to turn the ignition light off... (Bother!!)
The battery is fine: having bench-charged it, it will start the car happily enough. (How many times can you start a 200TDi in good condition on a new battery if it isn't being charged when you're driving?)
Diagnosis is that a replacement regulator should be sufficient, and that it should be easy enough to fit in situ.
Assuming that I have a standard unit fitted, what is the alternator (is it a Lucas A127??) and does anyone know the part number for the appropriate regulator?
(The AA chap was an ex- vehicle leccy. Said that they used to carry spares of these around, but don't any more. He also said that there were three types available, depending on the alternator: 35, 45 and 65 (amps, presumably), and that the '45' was a sensible choice as it would fit all three, but a '65' in a '35'/'45' wouldn't work as the longer brushes would snap off.)
I'll need to check the unit to confirm its identity before ordering, but was hoping to find some potential suppliers online from work first...