A170 Battery/Alternator?

[brucemillar]

Hi

My father outlaw's A170 has developed a weird fault.

The multi belt snapped requiring a new belt and pulley (fitted by a local indie)

Since then the battery keeps going flat. If the car does not start on the first turn (battery reading 12.8 vdc)it does not have enough juice in the battery to start it on the second attempt (starter just clicks) battery then reads 7.5 vdc.

1) He bought a new battery from Halfords (same problem).
2) Took the car to Halfords thinking the battery was knackered (it was a new battery). They tested the battery and say there is nothing wrong with it, They tested the battery and the alternator. The alternator test reads "ripple to big". So they say he needs a new alternator?

However... If the car does start the alternator is putting out 14.8 at the battery.

Do you think that the original belt fault and the "alternator fault" could be linked? Or is it a case of fitting a new alternator.

Belt tension etc is all fine. But he cannot use the car as there is no guessing if it will start each time he goes out in it.

 

[brucemillar]

OK

Took the car to WrighTec in Sidcup. Andy diagnosed it as a duff battery!! A load test on the battery showed it was draining way to quickly. Andy gave us a note to take to Halfords stating that the battery was at fault and that he had tested it as faulty. Halfords replaced the battery and the car has been fine since.

SO the moral of the story is don't trust Halfords as they are still arguing that they think the battery is fine.

Oh. One other point. Halfords say that warranty is is with the original part only ??

So if you buy a part with one years warranty and it fails 9 months into that year. They will replace it but only give three months warranty on the replacement. Can this be legal?

 

[Tony Russell]

Well, I suppose otherwise you could theoretically return a part on day 364 every year and get free batteries for life - right ?

Anyway. People who work in Halfords are shop assistants. If they were qualified to understand batteries, they'd likely not be working in Halfords (no disrespect or offence intended, I'm just thinking of some of the advice I have had in certain shops in the past).

BTW, I always keep a spare belt in the car. They are a nightmare to source when they break, and it's a garage job to replace.
The belts are only £15 if you buy them from the dealer yourself.

 

[brucemillar]

Well, I suppose otherwise you could theoretically return a part on day 364 every year and get free batteries for life - right ?

Anyway. People who work in Halfords are shop assistants. If they were qualified to understand batteries, they'd likely not be working in Halfords (no disrespect or offence intended, I'm just thinking of some of the advice I have had in certain shops in the past).

BTW, I always keep a spare belt in the car. They are a nightmare to source when they break, and it's a garage job to replace.
The belts are only £15 if you buy them from the dealer yourself.

Tony I hear you. However this was put on a tester with Halfords to prove their point that the Alternator was at fault!! The print out from their tester was used as their argument that the battery was was good. They then argued that they would not replace the battery under warranty as the battery had been replaced two years earlier and that warranty would not carry forward. This was arguing with a pensioner who can ill afford £800 for an alternator.

 

[Tony Russell]

Hi,
Glad you are sorted.
These cars are a nightmare.

Tony

 

[Dieselman]

Perhaps a polite letter to Halfords head office, suggesting that their staff need additional guidance and training might be useful to both parties.