The new news 24 thread

[vulgalour]

LBB:  The volts don't really drop that much, certainly not any more than you might expect with everything on.  However, you can watch the ammeter falling fairly rapidly to the point that the car almost stalls out if you've got all the systems going, as you might on a dark rainy night.  So something is certainly off somewhere.  Battery seems in good health and I'm not suffering from the usual earth issues of dodgy/dim lights or sluggish starting so the only thing I can think it could be is the alternator having an issue and, given what the dashboard ammeter shows.  I don't really know, to be honest, so it's just a case of getting the testing tools out and trying once again to learn from what Mike tells me.  With everything turned on - headlights, mainbeam, sidelights, brake lights, indicators, blower fan on full, heated rear screen, fog lights, wipers - the voltage drops to 12-ish, but the car struggles to maintain idle and comes pretty close to stalling, while the ammeter needle goes perilously close to the stop on the empty side of charging.  Also, even when it drops to nearly stalling, the alternator light doesn't come on and the alternator appears to still be charging as it should, there just isn't enough electricity to go around.

[dozeydustman]

Vulgalour - what alternator is currently fitted? IIRC these were only fitted with a 40A unit, which even at the time was only just man enough for the job. With your mods - different rear and additional lights, it could well be enough to tip a weakening alternator over the edge. Would a 1990's Mini unit fit - I think these are 50+ amps rated.

 

Don't rule out something else on the car being power hungry due to being worn out.

[LightBulbFun]

LBB:  The volts don't really drop that much, certainly not any more than you might expect with everything on.  However, you can watch the ammeter falling fairly rapidly to the point that the car almost stalls out if you've got all the systems going, as you might on a dark rainy night.  So something is certainly off somewhere.  Battery seems in good health and I'm not suffering from the usual earth issues of dodgy/dim lights or sluggish starting so the only thing I can think it could be is the alternator having an issue and, given what the dashboard ammeter shows.  I don't really know, to be honest, so it's just a case of getting the testing tools out and trying once again to learn from what Mike tells me.  With everything turned on - headlights, mainbeam, sidelights, brake lights, indicators, blower fan on full, heated rear screen, fog lights, wipers - the voltage drops to 12-ish, but the car struggles to maintain idle and comes pretty close to stalling, while the ammeter needle goes perilously close to the stop on the empty side of charging.  Also, even when it drops to nearly stalling, the alternator light doesn't come on and the alternator appears to still be charging as it should, there just isn't enough electricity to go around.

 

ahh 12V that sounds a bit low indeed, so sounds like voltage is indeed dropping, but id still expect current to increase as your turn various loads

 

IIRC a healthy alternator should put out about 14V

 

(going by what you said, when you say amp meter i pictured a classic amp meter, however it sounds like the car has something different to do with how much the battery is being charged? if so then it would make sense for the needle to fall, as more current is being used, less is available for charging the battery)

[HillmanImp]

Ordered the slave cylinder. £120 from Porsche but got one from the motor factors for £79, assuming its the correct one.

 

Still twice as much as a slave cylinder for any other car though, because Porsche.

 

I'd have thought that they'd have used VW or Audi parts on these but I'm yet to buy a single shared item....

[lanciamatt]

Also doesn't help with carb cars as on injection if everything on and alternator working over time the revs will drop that's when the idle control valve kicks in and raises idle slightly. On a low idle with everything on you will struggle to replenish what's been consumed. That was one of main issues with dynamos, on idle they bairly charge. Hope that helps, could just been down to a low output alternator

[vulgalour]

Alternator does seem to be the main suspect, having chatted to a couple of other friends about this.  I had forgotten that a while ago I had an issue with overcharging that went away before I could find the cause of it, then the alternator was normal for ages and I forgot all about it until now, when it seems to be undercharging.  I'll get a new one fitted when I can afford it, it's a fairly generic item and prices for them seems to range from about £40 to about £90, presumably on quality of manufacture?  I'll get a slightly beefier one if I can, it certainly wouldn't hurt.

[bramz7]

I think the 406 coupe needs a new MAF as it's seriously sluggish from start....I appreciate it's not meant to be lightening quick but it's worse than some of the leggy XUDs I've had. Takes ages for the turbo to wind up too, no doubt exacerbated by the slow speed from stand.

[Sigmund Fraud]

I'd have thought that they'd have used VW or Audi parts on these but I'm yet to buy a single shared item....

 

924s are VAG parts-bin specials. As one would expect, considering their development history.

 

944s are not, as Porsche re-engineered most parts to make them ever-so-slightly different and quite-a-lot more expensive.

[spike60]

Ordered the slave cylinder. £120 from Porsche but got one from the motor factors for £79, assuming its the correct one.

 

Still twice as much as a slave cylinder for any other car though, because Porsche.

 

I'd have thought that they'd have used VW or Audi parts on these but I'm yet to buy a single shared item....

I bought a master seal kit from Auto Doc in Europe for my 1989 944 for about £20 all in, this was much cheaper than the cylinders available in the UK.  Worked, too.

[eddyramrod]

what was the question?

I'm trying to forget...

[stuboy]

I think the 406 coupe needs a new MAF as it's seriously sluggish from start....I appreciate it's not meant to be lightening quick but it's worse than some of the leggy XUDs I've had. Takes ages for the turbo to wind up too, no doubt exacerbated by the slow speed from stand.

too many local runs?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

924s are VAG parts-bin specials. As one would expect, considering their development history.

 

944s are not, as Porsche re-engineered most parts to make them ever-so-slightly different and quite-a-lot more expensive.

 

Sounds a bit like what Saab allegedly did with the GM-based stuff that was foisted upon them......

[somewhatfoolish]

Barefoot of this parish having a day out in That London?

 

 

 

[lanciamatt]

I'm glad I don't live in London I couldn't cope with idiots having protests bring place to a bastard stand still every 5 minutes

[Tadhg Tiogar]

I'm glad I don't live in London I couldn't cope with idiots having protests bring place to a bastard stand still every 5 minutes

I live in an Orthodox Jewish district in that London. We don't get protests here. What we do get is the unique* style of driving and parking that is the preserve of Jewish mothers.

 

What's the difference between a Jewish mother and a terrorist? You can negotiate with a terrorist.

[Mally]

That sounds like bollocks to me, to be honest. I don’t believe that a bank would do that. PayPal is not some fly by night vendor they haven’t heard of.

 

Only reason I can see is insufficient funds/cover for funds, somewhere there shouldn't have been.

 

If it ever happens to my account, I'll do my best to place the cash in the aggrieved persons hand.

[barefoot]

 

I'd have thought that they'd have used VW or Audi parts on these but I'm yet to buy a single shared item....

 

 

The door handles are the same as your old Audi 100, unless they say PORSCHE on them, in which case they cost £300/pair used.

[andy18s]

I had a card cloned sometime ago,and had loads of micro-transactions put on it.

£1 here,99p there.All small enough to go un-noticed unless you actually went through your statement

After I spotted them and queried them with the card company,they had me go back a good few months to confirm all the transactions with the bank

Unless I could confirm the transactions individually then they put a block on it and then pursued it themselves.

Not saying that this is what has occurred here,but only 1 guy knows that for sure

[Mally]

Brown paper envelope would sort it, regardless of how it occurred.

[bramz7]

I think the 406 coupe needs a new MAF as it's seriously sluggish from start....I appreciate it's not meant to be lightening quick but it's worse than some of the leggy XUDs I've had. Takes ages for the turbo to wind up too, no doubt exacerbated by the slow speed from stand.

Timed it (sort of) earlier and after 17 seconds it had hit 45! Fuck sake.

[HMC]

Timed it (sort of) earlier and after 17 seconds it had hit 45! Fuck sake.

Try disconnecting it - if it is then loads better that’s a good way to confirm.

[barefoot]

Following on from my recent breakdown at Tibshelf services.

 

After an hour waiting, I became aware of the signs threatening a £100 fine unless I coughed up £12 for XS parking, so I pottered in to WH Smith.

The woman very kindly told me that you don't have to pay if you've broken down. She turned to a screen and entered my numberplate...

F - pictures of a dozen vehicles appeared,

FM - now just three pictures...

FMM - and there's a pic of my old bus.

 

ANPR is terrifyingly clever.

[Mally]

I had a T25 once, VW Heritage engine, just out of guarantee.

Lost power and didn't like hills.

Chocolate lobes on camshaft.

I hope your problems are minimal in comparison.

[Rave]

An absolute cunt of a job on the mk3.

 

My TDDI of many problems had it's alternator let go in a cloud of smoke, i took one look it it was and the access points, said "fuck that" and phoned the scrap man.

 

It's a bastard the first time you do it, but the second time you can be in and out inside an hour- assuming the alternator placement on the diesels is similar to my V6. My alternator only needed a new reg, which was 30 quid. Replacing the brushes didn't work, hence having to do it twice.

[Kiltox]

Following on from my recent breakdown at Tibshelf services.

 

After an hour waiting, I became aware of the signs threatening a £100 fine unless I coughed up £12 for XS parking, so I pottered in to WH Smith.

The woman very kindly told me that you don't have to pay if you've broken down. She turned to a screen and entered my numberplate...

F - pictures of a dozen vehicles appeared,

FM - now just three pictures...

FMM - and there's a pic of my old bus.

 

ANPR is terrifyingly clever.

Was also impressed by this when checking into a hotel at a service station, clever stuff.

[Saabnut]

Left home yesterday morning in the 150 quid Honda Jizz loaded with shite for France. About 100 miles in to the journey, I remembered that I had planned on checking fluid levels, tyre pressures, if it has a spare wheel etc the day before, but too late now! Called to see a friend near Sheffield, crossed by tunnel early hours, stopped for a bit of kip and arrived here midday ish. Left Scotland at 4c, sunny and 21c here! Just opened a beer.

 

[Split_Pin]

^^ Genuinely 'wish I was there!'

[vulgalour]

Done one balljoint on the Princess, easy peasy because SoC had been in there and loosened everything off.  Other side, not a chance, just ended up dragging myself across the floor trying to undo the ball joint.  Checked the alternator and got to the bottom of the unusual behaviour in that the alternator is picking whatever it feels like as a value so it looks like new alternator time.  I'm spending enough money at the moment it's like owning an executive German car.

[spike60]

Following on from my recent breakdown at Tibshelf services.

 

After an hour waiting, I became aware of the signs threatening a £100 fine unless I coughed up £12 for XS parking, so I pottered in to WH Smith.

The woman very kindly told me that you don't have to pay if you've broken down. She turned to a screen and entered my numberplate...

F - pictures of a dozen vehicles appeared,

FM - now just three pictures...

FMM - and there's a pic of my old bus.

 

ANPR is terrifyingly clever.

You pay to leave the Whinlatter Pass visitor centre car park near Keswick with the same predictive reg number system. I visited there last year and on leaving I entered the 530d BMW reg.

T - 32 matches.

T1 - 1 match.

I seemed to be 1999 car there anyway....

[beko1987]

Ha, same whwn I went to Wendover Woods with Charlie in the 406,although it was even sadder as I got to the 02 bit of the reg and there it was!