“Electric Failure DANGER”

[Simon Owen]

Car went into limp mode today, several warning lights, things started to shut down, power steering loss and then eventually ground to a halt !! Battery seems goosed for some reason, I have no idea why as I religiously plug into a CTEK conditioner whenever I put it away, doesn’t get used daily ?

1st time I recall a car truly letting me down in 20+ years

I’m hoping a simple new battery under warranty !!

(Mr AA stuck a bit of juice in to get us home (8 miles) then it died again)

[a110au]

probably the alternator.
has afflicted a number of people.

[Jayjay60]

This happened to me recently. Poor earth connection on the battery.

[Iceblue]

Jayjay60 said:

This happened to me recently. Poor earth connection on the battery.

The battery earth terminal retaining nut was,nt fully tightened on mine after a recent service and fuel pump replacement (recall) and had worked very loose, probably as its slightly awkward to access, luckily did,nt cause any problems.

[Simon Owen]

Cheers guys I will check that tomorrow, going to pop in to dealer on Tuesday, luckily I can walk from our office !! I’m hoping the call to collect and check it all out.

[Simon Owen]

Simon Owen said:

Cheers guys I will check that tomorrow, going to pop in to dealer on Tuesday, luckily I can walk from our office !! I’m hoping the call to collect and check it all out.

Checked with Ian in Manchester yesterday, very helpful technician, thoughts are alternator and belt replacement which they have in stock. I'll just need to call Alpine Recovery to get to the dealer over the next couple of weeks.

[Miserablegit]

This has just happened to me - waiting for RAC

[Miserablegit]

This has just happened to me - waiting for RAC

[Miserablegit]

RAC said 45 mins - at 40 mins I received a text from their agent 3.5 to 4 hours…

Tried calling AA - AA’s app is not working (presume deliberately so) - no answer after 20 mins so I’ve given up and will wait for RAC…


Could be worse

[Miserablegit]

I’m still waiting here 5.5 hours later…
Recovery keeps pushing the time out by another 40 mins to an hour every time they don’t turn up and I call to chase They are clearly picking up jobs that pay better than the Alpine contract.

[Jayjay60]

Don’t want to depress you further but my recent experience with Alpine Assist involved a 6 hour wait before recovery. They decided after about 3 hrs that a repair van couldn’t attend so arranged recovery and a taxi home. Not impressed at all, especially as we were going on holiday when the car failed.

[Miserablegit]

I beat you- 6.5 hrs wait. Just collected.
Sorry to hear it was prior to your holiday

[Jayjay60]

Hope it gets sorted and back on the road soon.

[Miserablegit]

Many thanks-
I’m sure it’s one of the duff alternators - had just returned from a 90 min drive and was off on another so should have had plenty of charge.

[Simon Owen]

Jeez guys, my car is at home tucked up on charger… not had chance to get to dealer yet, thinking I might risk driving in as it’s <15 miles !!

Ian reckoned I’d make it during day time, assuming my battery is not wrecked and it is ‘just’ the alternator ?

Coincidentally I’m with the AA too thank goodness.

[a110au]

supposedly you can drive for 30 mins on a battery,
might be right.

but take a second battery with you and a spanner to swap them and see if you can drive half way if not swap to the spare, and retreat

[GVO]

Happened to my PE just inside the warranty period in July 21. Collected by breakdown service within 30 mins and alternator and battery both replaced under warranty. Phew.

[essexstu]

Is this alternator failure happening to early 2016/17 cars or also later cars? Alternators should last year's and 100k plus miles

[Miserablegit]

The earliest UK cars are 2018 and yes, it is certainly happening on them.

[LGC-Adams]

Out of curiosity does anyone know what is the actual problem with the alternators, or the drive to it (as belt changes seem to be necessary)?
For such a universal auto component, are failures common across the industry?
An explanation, without the need for a degree in Electrical Engineering would be interesting.