Help please! EA down! Alternator failure!

Hi there,

I'm hoping that somebody knows a bit more about EA alternators than me - which is not going to be difficult! Any help or words of wisdom are going to be hugely appreciated.

My EA Fairmont has broken down with an alternator problem. I've had to abandon it at a rest stop and get a lift home (and hope the wheels don't get stolen before tomorrow morning!)

I already knew there was a battery issue (the light came on and problems starting), so I recharged the battery (for 24 hours) and hoped that the alternator would top it up.

But as I was driving tonight (highway driving) I could see that the voltage was falling over time - which seems to me to be a clear sign that there is an alternator issue. As the voltage dipped beneath the 10v level I pulled over at the nearest rest stop in case the lights failed. Sure enough the car wouldn't restart (although the lights still work).

(I thought there didn't seem much point getting a jump start if the voltage was falling)

So I have an abandoned car with a low battery and an alternator problem.

(And, let's not forget, I'm not driving an EA because I'm related to the Rockefellers.)

Does anyone have any good ideas as to what I can do?

Is it plausible to pick up an alternator from the wreckers and replace it at the rest stop? Is that easy an easy thing to do?

A more likely option is that I have to get a new battery (which is a shame if the alternator is the real problem) in the hope that I can get the car back home.

But even then - is replacing an alternator easy? Any suggestions or experience with buying generic or used alternators that might be of use?

As I said - any advice would be hugely appreciated. Seriously when it's almost half ten at night and you've got an abandoned car to save at first light in the morning, forums like this can take on the mirage of Superman....(!)

Cheers!

[mcflux]

Perhaps call a vehicle tower and worry about the EA at your convenience? It does sound like the alternator to me, however I'm not mechanically knowledgable (however plenty of people here are!)

Welcome to the Forums, despite your woes :( I hope you get the EA back to your place in one piece ;)

-Dave-

[Damo]

Deffinately altenater problem. Your battery is probably fine. I had the exact same problem a little while back, my car dies at a busy intersection on the way to a mates place to change the alternater. Cost me $80 for a tow and $20 for the alternater and instalation. Wrecker would be a ok for an alternater, pay the couple of dollars exra for a warranty, incase it fualty. Also note that the EA s1 and s2 alternaters have different pulleys, so you'll have to take the pully off your current alternater and put it on the replacement if it is a diff series EA.

I hope that makes a bit of sence. http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=9968 <thats the link to my dramas.

Damo

[INJECTED_250]

you will find ya alternator is covered with powestering gunk and dirt.. this gets inside it alternator dies realy quick.... Yup i reckon replce it on the side of the road if oyure good with toolsl... or drive with a fully charged battery during the day should get u home depending how far u r

[jjj]

check the bushes on your voltage regulator

Wow - thanks for helping so fast on this.

The car broke down about 40 mins from home, so a tow home might not work, but a tow to a garage is a possibility, especially if I can get the alternator myself.

I wish there was a place called 'Rent a battery' LOL!

Damo - $20 sounds like a dream come true (even if the intersection scenario was Friday the 13th all over - been there, done it with this EA!). What sort of place did that for you? A mechanic or a mate?

Does anyone have any good tips on buying alternators or getting them installed (cheap!)?

I should say - I'm no mechanic. But I know that electrical repairs can sometimes be quite easy.

Cheers!

Can I ask - what are the signs of knackered bushes on the regulator?

[This is assuming I get the car home, of course]

[Psycho Chicken]

Brushes. You have to pull them out to check them, they will be short as and not making contact with the armature. Or whatever it's called in the alternator, I forget.

Thanks for that.

Here's a question: is there any latent electricity inside an alternator do you think? A bit like why you should never attempt to repair a CRT telly yourself.

I think not, with the battery disconnected.

[Damo]

I think Sundeep explained the brushes in my thread (link in my above post). $20 = forum member (Sundeep)/mate who helped me out, he had 2 spare alternaters from EA's he'd wrecked. So it worked out good in the end. You could probably Jump start it, but it will die again very soon. Your alternater isn't charging hence your battery going flat. It may be the regulater, but I doubt it.

Good luck with it.

[Sundeep]

If you're in Melbourne I could do you a decent price on a alternator.

If you don't buy one of me (lol) make sure you tell the wrecker/shop what series it is or otherwise you'll be changing pulleys. EA1 had a V belt and EA2 had a ribbed belt.

Sundeep

Cool.

That sounds pretty plausible with the brushes.

[For anyone else with the same problem in the future: Sundeep said that if the brushes are only 5-6mm long they are gone]

I'm guessing I'm not going to hit gold and get a $20 alternator - any ideas of what costs I might be facing?

And if it is just the brushes, I'm assuming (?!) I replace the whole regulator? Yes?

Many thanks everyone for taking your time to read and reply to all of this. It really is appreciated.

Cheers!

Sadly no - I'm in NSW, south of Sydney.

Thanks for the extra detail about the pulley - the difference between the EA s1 pulley and the s2 pulley is a hot tip - is the sort of thing that could seriously ruin a day!!! And it's exactly the reason I'm sooooo pleased I asked in this forum!

Cheers!

[Psycho Chicken]

If the brushes are 6mm long they are more than gone. And yep, replace the reg, shouldn't cost too much.

Many thanks for all of your help.

I'm thinking that I might see if there's anyone near to the car that can make the repair cheaply - I could get a jump start perhaps to make it that far.

Failing that I guess I buy or beg for a battery to get it home - in fact, I guess I may need that either way with the battery that depleted.

Any top tips on buying an alternator or regulator?

Cheers!

[InitialD]

Just go into any auto parts place and ask for a Regulator for a EA bosch alternator.. should set you back around $50. Just need to unscrew it (2 flathead screws) and replace it ;)