Focus alternator?

tomaso11

Hi all,

I was driving this morning and the abs and battery light came on, a few km after the radio went, and wipers started to slow down (I needed them with the amount of rain :-( ). Managed to get off the M50 but then the engine and all electrics died. Battery has less than 6 months and shows as "ok" (green) on it, we managed to jump started it and get to work (2km from where it happened) but the car would not start unless I use the cables to jump start it.

Seems to be an Alternator issue, how much would that cost? its a Focus 06 1.6 petrol

Also, I am looking to try bring the car to either the garage in Damastown which is close to my work or back to Harolds Cross where I live. Any idea how much a tow would cost? or someone to recommend? I was looking at http://towpro.ie/

Thanks,

biko

Are you changing the alternator yourself?
You can get one at a breakers but then you don't know how good it is.

A new one is probably around a hundred or so.
Put your reg into micksgarage and they'll give you a ballpark price

tomaso11

biko wrote: »

Are you changing the alternator yourself?
You can get one at a breakers but then you don't know how good it is.

A new one is probably around a hundred or so.
Put your reg into micksgarage and they'll give you a ballpark price

MicksGarage is giving me one for 368 which seems way to much from I know

Anyway, not changing it myself I'm afraid, car is parked dead outside work and I am not even 100% it is the alternator so it would need to be tested first, nor I have the tools or place to do it here. Even if I wanted I would spend more money in cabs if I count going back and forth to get the stuff I need

biko

That sounds like a lot but it can depend on your model.
May as well have the mechanic diagnose it and then give you a quote for part and labour. They may be able to source a cheaper one or have a spare somewhere.

R.O.R

Sounds a lot like an alternator to me - had similar in an old Mondeo (everything slowly died, would jump and go again then died shortly afterwards) and that was the alternator.

Do you have breakdown assistance with your insurance policy? They'd either tow you or recover it to a garage.

There is a Ford dealer in Coolmine now, but I'd say €500 - €700 for that repair with a new Ford part.

I doubt you'll get away with less than €100 unless it's an alternator from a scrapyard and you do it yourself. Think it was about €400 on the wife's old V50 1.8 petrol, which would have had a similar alternator.

Don't know any independent mechanics in Blanchardstown/Damanstown area, but Treacy's in Kimmage is close to Harolds Cross - they did the wife's Volvo and do loads for us in work.

If you don't have breakdown assistance then you are probably looking around €80-€100 to get the vehicle on a breakdown truck.

tomaso11

Weird, this all happened around 8:30 this morning.. just went to check connections and belts and since I was there tried to start it, and started like nothing happened. left it running for 10 mins or so and seemed fine.

I know Treacy's and was also thinking of Crofton Motors on sundrive road,
I might chance it to try to get home and leave in one of those places. That way at least I'll have it close to home

tomaso11

I wonder if water got in somewhere, I wouldn't expect that to happen but it was pretty bad this morning

dastardly00

Did you manage to make it home/to the mechanics?

tomaso11

dastardly00 wrote: »

Did you manage to make it home/to the mechanics?

Nope, had it on for a bit to test it and died again so left it there. Will get a tow tomorrow, not sure where yet but was told about a place around the corner from where it is called "discount tyres" in Rosemount business park or or a ford one called 7 days auto in Damastown

jimbis

I've used this guy lots of times for starters/alternators. He can repair them or take the old one as part exchange so it keeps the price down. He's on the blessington road though so might not suit. Gent of a man though.
http://youtu.be/J9KDXWD-C4U

Also this guy I know is also in blessington so might keep the towing cost down aswell.
http://www.hughesrecovery.com

Ive heard good things about that discount tyres place if your thinking of going with them.

Old School Husqy

Are all the auto electricians on strike or something? €50-€70 average to get an alternator reconditioned.
Buying an alternator from a scrapyard is a no no unless you see it functioning in a running engine and have a voltmeter measuring the output.

Joe 90

First question, is it the alternator or just the belt?
Last alternator I bought was a reconned one for the Exige. It cost be about £100 about 18 months ago.

tomaso11

It's the alternator

Brought it to the garage earlier, guy is saying that looks like alternator was there had been replaced previously.. that the one there is smaller than what that engine should have and is burnt out.

I got the car a year ago, but the "funny" thing is that 6 months ago when I put a new battery, was asked why the car had such a small battery as that car/engine is suppose to have a bigger one.. so I went for the one that was supposed to be in the car (no difference in price)..Maybe the smaller battery was there on purpose because they had put a smaller alternator?

hanniffy1701

Had the same problem on my focus about 3 months ago exact same symptoms. Mine was under warranty and they fixed it for free. The cost would of been €80 for it reconditioned hope this helps