Ask a Shiter

[Craig the Princess]

How do you repair an alternator, espically renewing the brushes?

 

Always thought of that as a dark art.

[scooters]

How do you repair an alternator, espically renewing the brushes?

 

Always thought of that as a dark art.

 

 

deends on how it is set up - quite straightforward really.

 

The bits that usually fail are the brushes and voltage regulator. beyond this then unless you have a very rare alternator it might be cheaper to replace it. Wood Automotive stock most compnents for most alternators and have a brilliant database for cross referencing bits - ie a Bosch alternator will be identicle to a marelli and the same as the lucas/valeo/Iskra etc.

 

Brushes are usually either integral to the regulator assembly and externally mounted - this is the case on most Bosch alternators. Sometimes they can be replaced by themselves but in bosch external VR alts you usually have to replace the whole VR setup. If you can replace the brushes then it is a simpoe soldering job. Many Bosch VRs in theory can be replaced in situ but in practice getting the brushes to sit properly on the ring can be a nightmare and is easier on the bench.

 

Brushes are anything from 40p to £6 and VRs can be £5 to £40 depending on the car.

 

If it is an internal VR then you will need to remove the backing of the alternator to access it.

 

Whilst you have the alternator off it is a good idea to strip it down and give the whole thing a damn good clean with some electrical contact cleaner. check the bearings, the state of the internal bits and replace as required.

 

It's a good skill to learn as it can save you a lot of cash. You typically won't find the bits you need in a factor - online is best but check Wood as they are often cheaper than eba.

 

Hope this helps

[scooters]

really stupid question:

 

If I fit a 455 crank amp 12V battery to a car which normally takes a 345 crank amp 12V battery will I cause any damage?

[Skizzer]

really stupid question:

 

If I fit a 455 crank amp 12V battery to a car which normally takes a 345 crank amp 12V battery will I cause any damage?

 

Can't see why - that's about capacity to support load, not blowing-things-up power. As these guys (http://www.autobatteries.com/basics/selecting.asp) say, the higher the CCA the better (in terms of ability to start the car at a given ambient temperatue).

 

Someone will have a more expert opinion than mine though, hopefully...

[DSdriver]

MOT runs out on 26th inst, Tax runs out at the end of the month. Can I get another years tax on Monday using old MOT certificate?

 

No, it would need to be MoTed on 1st of the month. Sorry

 

So what do I do? I don't know if the car will be ready for its MOT before the end of next month, if it is I can tax it for November but if it carries over the car should be SORNed. Can I leave it until the end of the month before doing that?

[scaryoldcortina]

I'm trying to change the radiator on a golf mk IV, but I can't seem to release the plastic clips that hold the plastic radiator into the plastic surround and I'm a bit worried I'll break something if I lever them in the wrong place. Any ideas?

[Pete-M]

& if they're on the front they'd be a pig to balance

you'd have to get them done on the car.

 

Not if you use decent kwality spacers you wouldn't. A wheel and tyre is a wheel and tyre. If they're balanced properly it really wouldn't be an issue.

 

There are, however, a lot of tyre places that don't know how to balance wheels properly...

[M'coli]

It has occured to me that, even after all this time on here, I don't know the answer - how did Autoshite get started?

 

Was it a few people on another forum, a drunken pub idea or one person and it's just grown since?

IIRC, Mr H. Sceptre and Electric Leyland decided to start a website about the sort of old, unloved cars, vehicles and street scenes that they were nostalgic about and roped in Siestaboy(aka Blakey), an old Uni friend, to build them a website that had the colour scheme of an old Datsun.

[Tayne]

really stupid question:

 

If I fit a 455 crank amp 12V battery to a car which normally takes a 345 crank amp 12V battery will I cause any damage?

 

Can't see why - that's about capacity to support load, not blowing-things-up power. As these guys (http://www.autobatteries.com/basics/selecting.asp) say, the higher the CCA the better (in terms of ability to start the car at a given ambient temperatue).

 

Someone will have a more expert opinion than mine though, hopefully...

 

I agree.

CCA is a measure of ability to turn/start an engine under cold conditions. Provided the battery is of the required amperage and physically fits, higher CCA can do no harm.

[scaryoldcortina]

I'm trying to change the radiator on a golf mk IV, but I can't seem to release the plastic clips that hold the plastic radiator into the plastic surround and I'm a bit worried I'll break something if I lever them in the wrong place. Any ideas?

 

No-one? Not even to suggest hammering a smaller volkswagen over it? Oh well.

[Guest]

I'm trying to change the radiator on a golf mk IV, but I can't seem to release the plastic clips that hold the plastic radiator into the plastic surround and I'm a bit worried I'll break something if I lever them in the wrong place. Any ideas?

 

No-one? Not even to suggest hammering a smaller volkswagen over it? Oh well.

 

Take the car back because it's shit?

[wackywacerwill]

Tell them clips. Then reach for the cable ties.

[Cavcraft]

If I get a thirty quid welder from the nearest mingebag's paradise (aka Aldi) can I use a common or garden extension lead with it or will I require some fancy quadruple cored flux capacitating space technology one? Ta in advance.

[scooters]

I'm trying to change the radiator on a golf mk IV, but I can't seem to release the plastic clips that hold the plastic radiator into the plastic surround and I'm a bit worried I'll break something if I lever them in the wrong place. Any ideas?

 

No-one? Not even to suggest hammering a smaller volkswagen over it? Oh well.

Before you do it you should take off one of the clips, photograph it and send it to the clip company that advertises in the back of Practical Classics. I bought a variety box from them a few years ago and it is one of the most useful items I own for keeping the chod in trim.

 

if you break them you can replace them - some of these clips are single use

[catsinthewelder]

If I get a thirty quid welder from the nearest mingebag's paradise (aka Aldi) can I use a common or garden extension lead with it or will I require some fancy quadruple cored flux capacitating space technology one? Ta in advance.

 

Probably but check 2 things first

 

Some extension leads are only 10A rated, use full power and you'll need a full fat 13A jobbie

 

Uncoil the lead if its on a reel, I think a coil of wire creates some sort of induction loop. Powering your laptop with the lead all coiled up is technically inadvisable but in the real world is unlikely to be an issue. If you put a full 13A through it for any length of time it will get rather warm hopefully blowing the fuse before you get a fire.

[The Moog]

The volvo I have bought has 4 main issues. 1) Paint is rubbish 2) Gearlink is shot 3) Grinding from front wheels 4) exhaust is blowing somewhere

 

1) I can do with T cut so just some time and cheap bottle

2) Gearlinkage bush is £15 from ebay and on its way

3) Took front right wheel off and it looks like the discs are shot on the car. It grinds and slightly binds when steering right. Now I can get a new set of discs and pads for £50 and wont take me long to fit

4) Cant see where it is blowing. Will probably have to get someone to stick it on a lift for me but then that is £££

 

but is it worth doing this ?

 

Car cost £500. I reckon another £100 to sort the bits. It would still be worth £500. Alternatively I bung it on ebay and take what I get for it (hopefully close to £500 but realistically I reckon I would get about £400 at the moment)

[whitevanman]

/\ get some one to hold a thick wad of rags over the tail pipe, this blocks the exhaust and it will make the leak lous enough to trace

[M'coli]

If that doesn't narrow it down enough, an option is to pop the car on the ramps, and use a bit of hose or pipe to listen to the pipe all the way along until you hear the blowing bit.

[KruJoe]

Uncoil the lead if its on a reel, I think a coil of wire creates some sort of induction loop...

I also heard the amps can't get through if you tie a knot in it.

 

But SRSLY, you need to fully unwind a rolled up extension for heavy duty work, because of the heat generated within it may be enough to melt the insulation and short the job out. I can feel the warmth from my Vax cord after a good vacuuming session. If it were wound in, the heat would soon build up.

[The Moog]

Cool cheers for suggestions. I think it might be upfront as it sounds very boy racerish (not likely sonny) will need to take that bit of stupid plastic off first though that covers the engine.

 

But do i spend the cash or should i just punt it on with the issues?

[cort16]

I run my mig through a shit homebase 13a extension while also having my grinder and drill plugged in and it's not gone on fire*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*yet

[KruJoe]

Moog, where are you based?

If you're on about your 850, you could drop in here for some cheap 'zaust and brake bits, they're fine* on this breaker I have here.

I have space in a dry shed next to mine, trolley jack, axel stands, tools etc... I might even have some gun gum somewhere.

We can have a look at the chances of swapping in the leather, too.

 

* read "Perfectly servicable, though I haven't investigated newness."

[Craig the Princess]

Good stuff

 

 

Thanks scooters, I must try that with one of the old allegro ones I have kicking around.

 

On the Volvo I'd do the work

a) it beats doing the housework

if you have a clean tidy car you'll make it back.

[chaseracer]

Ford Cosworth 2.9 24v V6s - why are they called BOB?

[The Moog]

Cheers for the offer Krujoe but it is the new V40.

 

Fair points Craig. Will have to disguise the expenditure from the finance director ..

[scaryoldcortina]

Ford Cosworth 2.9 24v V6s - why are they called BOB?

 

It's the ford engine code. BOB is the later 24v, BOA is the earlier one...

 

 

Back to the Golf, they aren't clips. they are bolted through from the front. This means that the floor looks like this

 

and the car looks like this

 

 

Just to get the radiator out :

 

edit because I uploaded 2 pics called golf2 and peebucket renamed the one I wanted to use!

[chaseracer]

In another place,

...mondeos... there's so bloody many of them the prices have dropped through the floor...

Is it the same with the BMW 3-series? I remember TG, etc., banging on a while ago about how the 3 was outselling the Mundano in the UK.

[ashmicro]

E46 3 Series isn't worth a shit. Badly designed, and badly made from poor quality materials. For example, a neighbour's 80k miler looks and feels totally shagged despite FSH and not being driven hard. Just feels cheap, and despite all the bollocks about Beemers being "driver's cars", it doesn't handle all that well either.

[tonedepear]

Why do Vauxhall rear view mirrors have a serrated back on one side?

[autofive]

Why do Vauxhall rear view mirrors have a serrated back on one side?

 

for catching pedestrians?