Suggestion - new/recon alternator needed

chloeinalbany · Post by **chloeinalbany** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:46 pm

Hello. I have an NA 1990, and for the last few weeks the battery charge light has been intermittently lights up. This morning the car won't start. The AA mechanic who came over told me that I wil need a new battery, plus his computer diagnostic thingy is showing to check alternator, probably faulty. Any suggestions where should I go to get the alternator checked or get a good recon unit, somewhere cheap and cheerful? We live in Whangaparaoa. Somewhere over on the shore would be great. Thanks heaps, any of you passing around this away and come across an older red NA with a not-bad new coat of paint, and a small dog behind the seats - thats us! Cheers.

na6*dori · Post by **na6*dori** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:57 pm

get a multimeter on the battery and check charging voltage with car running, then check the regulator by turning all the lights etc on to see how much of a current/voltage drop there is, the battery light isnt always a definate. should be charging between 13.8-14.5volts

let me know how you get on,
if not a local workshop can test it how i said, they shouldnt charge you anything to do it either because its a small job

na6*dori · Post by **na6*dori** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:59 pm

i think a general round about charge for alternator replacements is around 350 to 400ish fitted at a garage. just to give you an idea so you dont get ripped off

chloeinalbany · Post by **chloeinalbany** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:08 pm

the AA man did all that with his multimeter etc and he thought the alternator could be faulty - probably the regulator inside, which he said can be fixed. He suggested an AA garage nearby to get the alternator bench-tested. Yeah the 350 - 400 mark is more than I thought. Will try my regular garage and let you know how much would he charge. Thanks!

na6*dori · Post by **na6*dori** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:13 pm

all good, the aa guy should have been able to tell you a definate fault with the alternator, i used to do it for state and it seems poor of him to say it maybe the reg, worst case is take the car to a wrecker to get a 2nd hand one or PM brownie and he can send you one from chch

punkoutnz · Post by **punkoutnz** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:20 pm

I bought a second hand one from Ross at MX5 mart which was around $100 from memory. Hasn't given me any problems in the last 18 months. I fitted it myself, most garages would probably charge you an hour to do this. Plus the cost of a new battery at around $140 depending on what you go for.

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:28 pm

I have a spare one which came out of my ex mazda 323 1600. It looks identical with the same wiring socket so should fit if you get stuck!

Maybe someone on the forum can confirm this to be the same or not...cheers.

na6*dori · Post by **na6*dori** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:29 pm

WideOpenThrottle wrote:I have a spare one which came out of my ex mazda 323 1600. It looks identical with the same wiring socket so should fit if you get stuck!

Maybe someone on the forum can confirm this to be the same or not...cheers.

have you got the part number on the sticker?

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:53 pm

have you got the part number on the sticker?

Hope you can read it!

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:59 pm

This one is on Trademe

Listing #: 507882923

na6*dori · Post by **na6*dori** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:02 pm

that will work, part number x references to the mx5 and a 323 and the casing etc is identical

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:03 pm

Cheers...now you are the legend!

chloeinalbany · Post by **chloeinalbany** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:30 pm

You're all legend! Cheers for all the suggestions - will check tomorrow or on Friday with my regular guy who does WOF for our cars then I may take up your kind offers, depending if he can find one or not. I won't put it on myself, not that good with tools

Just for fun, here are some photos (I put them on miatanet before).

chloeinalbany · Post by **chloeinalbany** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:32 pm

oops - here's the correct 2nd photo!

na6*dori · Post by **na6*dori** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:45 pm

WideOpenThrottle wrote:Cheers...now you are the legend!

lol, give a favor get a favor haha

chloeinalbany · Post by **chloeinalbany** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:56 am

just for info - got quoted 225 + GST by Mazda NZ for the original gel battery. Might just go for the ordinary Exide though, not enough funds unfortunately!

Post by **jif** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:13 am

try calling John Andrew Ford ... it was ~$150 a few years ago, hopefully it hasnt shot up that much since then !

[Posted via external email]

na6*dori · Post by **na6*dori** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:50 pm

just for humour, exide and marshall batteries are the same batteries, just diff stickers.....

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:37 pm

the original panasonic batery is a gel cell battery and doesnt vent into the boot
a lead acid battery will vent its gas into the boot space. no dramas you may think, but anyone with a lead acid battery in their boot will have a whole bunch of rust around it
those gasses will make it in to the cabin too

i used a AGM battery last time i replaced mine
i got it from sun power plus in silverdale wich is pretty close to you
heres a link

http://www.sunpowerplus.co.nz/sunpowerplus%20Home.html

hope this helps

chloeinalbany · Post by **chloeinalbany** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:15 pm

cheers, Silverdale is pretty close to us. Will see how it goes with the alternator first, then hopefully I'll have enough dosh for an AGM battery.

na6*dori · Post by **na6*dori** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:41 pm

sprsta wrote:the original panasonic batery is a gel cell battery and doesnt vent into the boot
a lead acid battery will vent its gas into the boot space. no dramas you may think, but anyone with a lead acid battery in their boot will have a whole bunch of rust around it
those gasses will make it in to the cabin too

i used a AGM battery last time i replaced mine
i got it from sun power plus in silverdale wich is pretty close to you
heres a link

http://www.sunpowerplus.co.nz/sunpowerplus%20Home.html

hope this helps

agreed

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:02 pm

I have had a lead acid in my car for 10 years with no sign of rust

Stevo · Post by **Stevo** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:15 pm

I have a lead acid that has vents on top that connect to clear PVC tubing and that is vented outside.

chloeinalbany · Post by **chloeinalbany** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:24 pm

Have asked a couple of auto electricians - said they can only give a firm quote once they have taken the alternator out. As a guideline though, both said it would be between 250 - 350 bucks all in (labour, repair etc etc). Anybody suppose I could find somewhere cheaper? WideOpenThrottle- cheers for the offer but the part numbers don't match. There was also an NB alternator on TradeMe, looks mint but it won't fit NA, what a shame. Auto electricians will give 6 months warranty. Here's the shocker though - a brand new alternator ex-Japan from Mazda - a cool $1800 + GST!!!!!

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:28 pm

chloeinalbany wrote: Here's the shocker though - a brand new alternator ex-Japan from Mazda - a cool $1800 + GST!!!!!

Eh, what are you supposed to do, trade your car in for a new alternator!