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 Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:47 am |
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Joined: Jul 16, 2010
Posts: 46
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Lancaster
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Trying to figure out if my battery is dead or the alternator isn't working, and trying to save money by not taking it to the garage.
For the past 2 months my car has had very little use. About a month ago it did a 100 mile motorway trip and about 2 weeks ago it did a 10 mile shopping trip but has otherwise been sitting outside unused. Started it over a week ago with the intention of going out and it struggled a bit but started, ended up not going out so turned it off. Started it the night before last to check that it was working as I was planning on using it this weekend and wanted to make sure it worked. Started fine so turned it off. I realise now that this is not good for the poor battery. Last night started it to go out, and it wouldn't start just made sounds like it was trying to turn over slowly.
My OH says it's just because it has been sitting without being used and that he'll jump start it then if I go for a 30 min drive it will be fine again. Dad says it's probably the alternator and take it to the garage to have it replaced. It's done nearly 90,000 miles and is diesel, with me has mostly done motorway and was used daily up until three months ago.
Which is more likely? Is it likely that a perfectly healthy battery would loose charge with little use or do I have a dodgy battery?
Any opinions would be appreciated, as I'm trying to scrape together enough money to buy a different car (this one is costing too much in repairs) so don't really want garage fees or a new battery unless essential.
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:48 am |
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Joined: Sep 19, 2010
Posts: 202
Trade Rating: 0
Location: uk
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A battery test is free at 99% of the garages, and they also test the alternator
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:50 am |
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Joined: Jul 16, 2010
Posts: 46
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Lancaster
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If it is the alternator how much and how quick is it to fix?
By the time I can take it to the garage I will only have 1 weekday before I need it to get to work  .
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:07 am |
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Joined: Jan 29, 2011
Posts: 6526
Trade Rating: +10
Location: Westhoughton, Lancashire
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First of all what year is the car.
Don't just let your OH jump start it, read up on how to do it properly.
You can test the alternator and battery yourself using a multimeter, and both are fairly easy to change.
The battery would take 10 mins max to swap, the alternator about an hour tops.
If you are doing it yourself, go somewhere like EK Brakes and get a reconditioned one. You pay a surcharge but get that back when you return your old alternator to them.
As for price, it varies from place to place. Last alternator i bought was £45 exchanged from Ribblesdale Auto in Preston. A garage you would probably be looking at around £100.
If you do it yourself, make sure you shut the BSI down correctly.
Just looked at alternator prices from ECP. Around £150 upwards. I would definately go for reconditioned if I needed one.
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Last edited by macca1411 on Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:15 am; edited 1 time in total
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:09 am |
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Joined: Feb 07, 2010
Posts: 1031
Trade Rating: +7
Location: UK - North
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like qwert responded, an auto electrics garage will likely do a free test and will be able to tell you in minutes the state of both battery and alternator.
i changed the alternator on my 1.4 hdi lately (it works fine it was the pulley bearings making it rumble) and it was a tad fiddly, but a garage shouldn't charge more than an hour for it.
be careful with jump starting the later 206's as you can spike the electrical systems.
my opinion is that it's the battery judging on the lack of use.
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| Former owner of a 1.4 HDi for six years | |
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:11 am |
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Joined: Feb 07, 2010
Posts: 2800
Trade Rating: +34
Location: Worthing
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Before you spend any money, i'd jump start it and take it for a long drive 30mins + to give the battery a really good charge, then see what it's like the next day.
If that doesn't work, i'd say it was the battery 9/10 times it is. But you can take to a garage or halfords who will do a free battery and alternator test for you which will tell you what is wrong, before you spend out £££ you don't need to 
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| Moonstone blue 206 1.4look
pro race 1.2 White
Morettes
GTI wings
TEAM: Carbon Fibre 
TEAM: I'm a greedy jelly fiend! | |
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:16 am |
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Joined: Jul 16, 2010
Posts: 46
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Lancaster
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Thanks! It's a 2002 model, poor thing.
How do I jump start it safely?
Sorry, I'm not very mechanical.
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:17 am |
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Joined: Sep 19, 2010
Posts: 202
Trade Rating: 0
Location: uk
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Take the battery off properly and charge it
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:21 am |
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Joined: Jan 29, 2011
Posts: 6526
Trade Rating: +10
Location: Westhoughton, Lancashire
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:28 am |
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Joined: Feb 07, 2010
Posts: 4455
Trade Rating: +1
Location: Essex
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Battery.
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 12:23 pm |
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Joined: Feb 07, 2010
Posts: 2949
Trade Rating: +6
Location: Athens, Greece
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Battery.
| Mrs_Howey wrote: |
| Before you spend any money, i'd jump start it and take it for a long drive |
Don't.
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| 1.4i, 2001, 3-door, China Blue
Repair safely - Drive safely | |
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 12:24 pm |
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Joined: Feb 07, 2010
Posts: 2800
Trade Rating: +34
Location: Worthing
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| V9977 wrote: |
Battery.
| Mrs_Howey wrote: |
| Before you spend any money, i'd jump start it and take it for a long drive |
Don't. |
I used to jump start mine all the time and nothing has ever happened, and to be honest unless you read up on here, i bet most normal people jump start their 206 because they don't know any difference!
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| Moonstone blue 206 1.4look
pro race 1.2 White
Morettes
GTI wings
TEAM: Carbon Fibre
TEAM: I'm a greedy jelly fiend! | |
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:06 pm |
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Joined: Feb 07, 2010
Posts: 2949
Trade Rating: +6
Location: Athens, Greece
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| Mrs_Howey wrote: |
| V9977 wrote: |
Battery.
| Mrs_Howey wrote: |
| Before you spend any money, i'd jump start it and take it for a long drive |
Don't. |
I used to jump start mine all the time and nothing has ever happened, and to be honest unless you read up on here, i bet most normal people jump start their 206 because they don't know any difference! |
Agreed, most people do and not just 206s.
Still, it is not recomended unless it's an urgent situation.
There is a very real risk being taken every time you do and it can take ages for the damage to manifest as a fault, big or small.
Or it can be immediate.
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| 1.4i, 2001, 3-door, China Blue
Repair safely - Drive safely | |
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:44 pm |
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Joined: Jul 16, 2010
Posts: 46
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Lancaster
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*Update*
Thanks all! Showed OH this and he jump started it, we took it for a 30 min drive then after a break it restarted fine and had another 30 min drive to keep charging that battery. Seems fine now *phew*.
I'm also taking it down to my local garage next week who are going to test the battery and alternator for me just to be safe.
Car only has to last a few more months at most so hopefully with daily driving it won't do this again.
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:57 pm |
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Joined: Jan 29, 2011
Posts: 6526
Trade Rating: +10
Location: Westhoughton, Lancashire
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Glad to hear you have got it sorted.
Most people wouldn't bother with the garage now, but it's best thing to do. If the battery or alternator is on it's way out, then you would find out the hard way during the winter months.
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