15/12/09

At the end of our greenlaning day on Sunday, I was losing charge in the battery... I got to a gate leading up to a mountain 'lane (Conquering Hero) and stopped the truck to leave it in gear as it was on a big slope, when I came to restart it all I got was a big "Tick"... Sh!t! in the middle of nowhere and no power, and the other two guys where behind me on the lane, so no jumpleads available... so they backed up and I jumped it in reverse down the lane and got it running enough to get me home...

So today, Tuesday, I started stripping the alternator out... it's had a bearing grating sound for a while anyway, so it needed doing! -

Easiest way I find, and I've done a few Vitara alternators in my time... is to whip the radiator out! With the rad out of the way there's lots more room to work! So just two bolts and two jubilee clips, and a bit of a wiggle, and the radiators out of the way...

... there you go! Room to get your hands in and work around the alternator! I've always found it a pig of a job to do, both getting to all the bolts, and then fighting the alternator up or down the side of the engine... it's usually easier to go down than up, but I've got a full set of ORA skidplates "in the way", so it's easier all round to whip the radiator out...

... and while it's out, a good opportunity to get all the mud out of it! ;)

So, with the alternator out, I stuck it in a carrier bag as it was filthy, and shot into Rhyl - my nearest town - and visited the car dismantlers... always easier to take the old one with you as there are a few different alternators fitted to Vitaras, some of them two pin and some three? They don't make it easy do they?

So, I fought the new one back in, wired it up, bolted in back in, jumped the truck to start it as the battery was dead... and hey presto, 14.6v across the battery, so all looked well... I left it running for ten minutes, then switched it off and tried to restart it..... "Tick" again... sh!t!

At this point, I tested what I could think of, it definately seemed to be charging, as the battery had 12v across it when the engine was off, and 14.6v when the engine and alternator where running... hmmm, so then I decided to phone a friend ;) Many thanks to Rich "Rockwatt" Wattam for all his advice on the phone! Cheers mate, owe you one... Between we reckoned the battery was just flat from the alternator not working... a quick trip to my local friendly garage and they reckoned the same thing...

So, I left it on charge overnight -

Battery charger and extension lead nestled on top of the engine, with the bonnet shut it case it rained (and it did, "for a change"... sarcasm!)

16/12/09

Went out to it this morning, disconnected the battery charger, reconnected the batter leads, turned the key............................................ "Tick" :(

Dead battery... literally... so, with a days greenlaning on Sunday in the Peak District planned... I nicked the battery off "Private Pebble" in the garage...

Hey Presto! All sorted... replacement alternator and battery, and we shall go to the ball... no way I was missing laning in the Peaks! Photos to follow!!!

Thanks again to Rockwatt ;)

And to Kevin (White Vitara on Sunday)... he had a spare Alternator and was standing by to meet me half way with it if necessary... Cheers Kev! ;)