alternator failed

[james butler]

ahhh my alternator failed on my way into work tonight so im stranded with a flat battery and a non charging alternator!
cue the RAC, but while im waiting i have been thinking, the battery light didn't come on. even with the ignition on and the engine off the light doesn't come on so im guessing there's an open circuit in the excitation side of the alternator? or that little blue wire is knackered.

[james butler]

RAC guys fixed it. was the blooming brushes they are worn.
he tapped the alternator with a hammer n hey presto its working again,
funny though because i was in euro car parts the other day and ordered a brush pack because i didn't have a spare but it doesn't arrive till tomorrow.

[Nate]

Don't think that's a fix ;) will need doing asap

[james butler]

Don't think that's a fix ;) will need doing asap

will do, just gotta get it back home first and hope it dont happen again along the way

[james butler]

to be fair im surprised the RAC guy didnt try and blag i needed new alternator to be fitted.
was rather a nice friendly chap.

[mark1gls]

Only 2 screws holding the regulator in so you should be able to change them in a few minutes, just give the electrical contacts on the alternator where the regulator fits a bit of a clean.
Picture of my old and new regulator.

[the edmundator]

to be fair im surprised the RAC guy didnt try and blag i needed new alternator to be fitted.
was rather a nice friendly chap.

I think their target is to get you mobile again, so in this case hammer is cheap and effective!

[james butler]

i got my new regulator/brush packs today so am going to get it fitted tomorow when i get a bit more time and a lot more sober

[james butler]

here is a piccy of the new brush pack from topran, oddly enough the one brush is longer than the other?



i know the old brushes dont look too worn but that might be because i tried to pull them out with plies hence the raggedy ends!


this other manufacturer of brush does not fit! so if your looking for brushes from a supplier and they offer you this go for the topran one instead as this wont fit a 90 amp alternator!
they look the same but the bolt hole spacing's are different.

[mark1gls]

My picture in my post above is of the Topran bushes and mine are the same length, they are on springs so try pressing them in to see if they come back out a little further?