Karl M N Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 (edited) Hey guys. Bit of a silly question I guess but I've been having troubles with the car lately. The battery was dying and I put it down to lack of use. Recently whilst driving the battery light came on and I even lost power steering a couples of times and many other things such as the TRC and ABS came on. Today I bought a new battery and fitted it. The battery light remained on whist driving but my steering was fine and all other lights were off. Drove around for about an hour and a half, all seemed fine until I got home. The TRC light came on and when I tried to restart the car it wouldn't budge. So of course it would lead me to believe the alternator has died but I can't imagine it would kill a battery in a couple of hours. Should also point out I went to turn the car on 10 minutes later, and it's starting up just fine. The battery light remains on. Am I wrong in thinking the alternator is at fault here? Edited January 8, 2017 by Karl M N (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike2JZ Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?316424-Sudden-appearance-of-warning-lights-Can-t-get-them-to-go-away Sounds like an alternator / charge system issue. It is not a good idea to run a new battery completely dry of power by the way. If you want an easy answer then stick a multimeter on the battery and see what it says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted December 27, 2016 Author Share Posted December 27, 2016 (edited) Thought so, I just like to get second opinions before I spend money on more repairs. I also wasn't expecting the battery to die so fast if it was an alternator issue, Although it's not completely dry right now. Thanks Edited December 27, 2016 by Karl M N (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Electronic issues will not lose the PAS, it might go SLIGHTLY heavier, it sounds like you should check the crankshaft damper pulley is still intact first. A faulty regulator in the alternator causing OVER charging will kill a battery, and low or no charging over a period of time with the battery being allowed to go nearly completely flat several times won't do it a power of good either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted December 27, 2016 Author Share Posted December 27, 2016 (edited) Electronic issues will not lose the PAS, it might go SLIGHTLY heavier, it sounds like you should check the crankshaft damper pulley is still intact first. A faulty regulator in the alternator causing OVER charging will kill a battery, and low or no charging over a period of time with the battery being allowed to go nearly completely flat several times won't do it a power of good either. I'm aware of the damage I could be causing to the battery. I'll check the car tomorrow when it's light enough to see. Thanks. I'll likely change both to be on the safe side. Edited December 27, 2016 by Karl M N (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Sounds like a damper issue. I had it with mine a few years back. Was intermittent at first then lost all power. Charged battery via the AA and was fine, so bit of looking and we spotted the damper not always spinning. Got home and replaced it, it was shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 (edited) Sounds like a damper issue. I had it with mine a few years back. Was intermittent at first then lost all power. Charged battery via the AA and was fine, so bit of looking and we spotted the damper not always spinning. Got home and replaced it, it was shot This happened this morning unfortunately. I figured I'd has a quick look before heading to work. Started up fine, could not see any issue with the pulley. Left it running for 2 minutes and it died, so that's another round of repairs for me. Again. Edited December 28, 2016 by Karl M N (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 When you get a new damper, put a line of tipex on the two halves so you can always do a visual check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 We could only see the problem with the pulley when putting stress on the engine. Turned the steering wheel in both directions and you could see the strain. It was minor, but obviously when driving it's bigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 Thanks. I'll hopefully get a good look at it on the weekend. I'm not sure if I'll have so much luck if I can't get the car to turn back on though. I know those pulleys ain't cheap either which doesn't help when my insurance is due in a month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike2JZ Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Get a second hand one for ~£50-60 if money is tight. Bit of a gamble on how long it will last, but will get you back on the road at least. Where in Kent are you? Can help you swap pulley's over if needed, can be a nightmare job if you don't have the tools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 (edited) Get a second hand one for ~£50-60 if money is tight. Bit of a gamble on how long it will last, but will get you back on the road at least. Where in Kent are you? Can help you swap pulley's over if needed, can be a nightmare job if you don't have the tools It's not that money is tight, I just wanna be able to save without repair bills coming up constantly. I've spent a quarter of the cars value in repairs in the 8 or 9 months I've had it. And I'm in Medway, Chatham area I'll look into getting a new pulley rather than a second hand, working 6 days a week and only having Sundays makes repairs incredibly inconvenient so if rather buy good quality. Of course before I do I like to be 100% certain I've found the problem . If I'm lucky I'll get the car on later just to get another look at it Edited December 28, 2016 by Karl M N (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike2JZ Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 It's not that money is tight, I just wanna be able to save without repair bills coming up constantly. I've spent a quarter of the cars value in repairs in the 8 or 9 months I've had it. And I'm in Medway, Chatham area t Welcome to owning a 20 year old car Drop me a message if you need a hand, im only down the road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 (edited) Thanks. And will do. I was expecting high maintenance, just didn't realise I'd be repairing it so frequently, especially since I've probably done less that 1500 miles in it since I bought it. Hopefully in a year ir two I'll have it running reliably. And hopefully my insurance won't rob me again. I'll be sure to give you a shout. Thanks mate. Edit: just got home. Car started up and I dead load tested it. The battery itself is fine and it's saying it's a charging system problem. The car didn't last long though, 2 minutes later the lights dimmed, the trc light came on and my boost gauge died. Not rue if this info tells us anything that hasn't already been discussed. Edited January 7, 2017 by Karl M N (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attero Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 I had my supra go off the road right after I bought it and I spent the same amount in repairs than the car was worth. It happens to 20+ year old cars unfortunately. But fix it right, and you have another 20 years ahead of you. That's a good life for a car! Plus it will be worth it big time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 I had my supra go off the road right after I bought it and I spent the same amount in repairs than the car was worth. It happens to 20+ year old cars unfortunately. But fix it right, and you have another 20 years ahead of you. That's a good life for a car! Plus it will be worth it big time. No doubt it is worth it. The money doesn't bother me, time does. I'd happily take the car off the road and spend a few months giving it a proper tidy up but won't have space for a few months. That and I'd be stuck with nothing but my diesel Ibeza. Not exactly a fun car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Get a second person to help you. Start the car, get them to turn the steering wheel all the way in both directions whilst you watch the pulleys and belts. I'm willing to be £100 it's the damper. It will be desperation of the two halves and won't always be lose. Exact same with mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samm Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 "Delamination of the two halves" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
and1c Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 You can still tipex mark the damper halves and then see if the marks line up after a few restarts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 30, 2016 Share Posted December 30, 2016 Mine was the same had my alternator refurbed ,needed a new regulator all good now £40 bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 (edited) Okay guys I've tried to test the pulley but unfortunately they won't budge, so I figured I'd bump this thread rather than make a new one. They had previously moved slightly when turning the key but now I'm getting nothing. Just back to the car making a rapid ticking noise. I'd blame the starter motor but don't see how that would change how the car is acting once it's already running. Are you guys sure it's not likely to be a bad alternator or perhaps the negative cable is broken/not connected properly? Edit: All lights and stuff still come on just fine, the battery itself is fine. Edited January 8, 2017 by Karl M N (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike2JZ Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Get a multimeter on the battery whilst car is off and running. Report back here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 Get a multimeter on the battery whilst car is off and running. Report back here I'll see if I can get it running and give it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl M N Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 Okay so I got a reading of about 11v. Car wouldnt start. I swapped the battery over with one that was giving a reading of 12v. I got the car running however it was only giving off 11.88v this time. My battery light was off for about a minute before it came back on, however it would go away after holding the revs just above 2k. I swapped the battery back over and the car is now completely dead, apart from some very faint lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike2JZ Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Needs to be 14v+, probably your alternator is gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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