Rover 200 & 400 Owners Club

Paul_1978_yorks · Post by **Paul_1978_yorks** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:37 pm

Hi all,

At the end of a journey from Wakefield to Scarborough on Friday in one of my SEi's, a journey of about 70 miles. in the wind and heavy rain, radio on, blower on, wipers on fast setting, lights on etc, the battery light was feintly glowing. This was only when stationary and engine at idle.

When revving slightly or driving, the feint light was extinguished.

Is this anything to be concerned about?

Incidentally, on the return journey on Sunday, no such light was displayed on my arrival back in Wakefield, and the car started fine after being stood since Friday at about 4pm, to 11am on Sunday.

Cheers
Paul

crank · Post by **crank** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:49 pm

Probably the alternator belt is slipping slightly.
With all the electrics on there's a heavy load and the alternator presents more resistance to being turned.
Check the belt tension. It might be a bit slack.
If not, it could be a poor connection or on it's way out.

E_T_V · Post by **E_T_V** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 10:35 pm

Check the connections on the alternator as if its a K series the connections are on the front in the path of all the water spray.

Otherwise check that the voltages are right with the engine running (13.5-14.5v).

Paul_1978_yorks · Post by **Paul_1978_yorks** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:02 pm

Hi, many thanks for your replies.

I had suspected the alternator a couple of weeks ago as I get a high-pitched squeaking when the engine is cold, but this seems to disappear when the engine has warmed up.

When I had it in for a service I asked them to check the tension of the belt and they said it was fine. So it looks like a connection issue, or the alternator is on its way out.

Not got a voltmeter, but will have to get one to check.

How much am I talking for a new alternator supplied and fitted? Or a reconditioned one even?

Cheers
Paul

richard moss · Post by **richard moss** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:40 pm

The alternator may be as little as £40 for a recon unit. A ring round the Motor Factors listed in Yellow Pages will get you a price.

Martin_214 · Post by **Martin_214** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:16 pm

Sounds familiar. My 214's alternator went last winter. I had heard a squeaking for a couple of weeks, turns out the bearing had gone inside. When the RAC came to jump start we found the alternator was running red hot and burning itself out inside.

Was £76 inc VAT fitted at a local auto electrics place. If it had not been round the corner from work where my car was stranded, I would have done it myself, just a belt, a few bolts and an electrical connector.

Clawjaw · Post by **Clawjaw** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:20 am

How easy is the belt to re-fit ro the alternator? I think mine needs changing...

If i didnt have anyone to give me advice i would just unbolt the alternator and let the belt slip off of it. I would then carefully take the alternator off. Get the new one and but it back on the belt, then bolt it back on.

E_T_V · Post by **E_T_V** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:57 pm

If its a T series then the belt is so simple to change. All you need is a spanner to slacken the tension on the autotensioner, you wind it against spring tension till you can remove the belt, then the same to refit. The spring has a fair amount of force on it so make sure the spanner doesn't slip!

Clawjaw · Post by **Clawjaw** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:18 am

Where abouts is the autotensioner Dan?

E_T_V · Post by **E_T_V** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:37 am

It is the pulley that isn't attached to something (alternator/aircon/crank etc). Its at the bottom and best accessed from underneath. If you look at the belt run from underneath you'll see one pulley is just there to tension the belt, and the pulley isn't attached to anything. Thats the one you need to twist out of the way with a spanner.

Battery Warning Light

Battery Warning Light