firedawg

I went to devon last week 650 mile round trip and kept the sidelights on all the time and the car has started fine, so i am hoping that it is cured. mind you wife didn't like my 'progressive' driving around devon - kids did though !

Don't know mate - might be worth finding out.

I had a look and it says Landini maintenance free ! SAE 520 amps - 60 amps.

Not as yet mate, I have been driving with the lights on and as of yet the car seems great ! Mind you I have been doing decent mileage !

Just seems strange that the guy thought I needed 12.50 and I was only getting 12.30 to 12.40 which he said was not enough.

Cheers folks - reckon the guy yesterday did not know about the fact that it charged what it needed when under load cause he seemed to think that it should be above 12.50. He did put a meter on the battery to check the cells and they seemed ok but can never be sure i guess.

Cheers for that buddy ! SoI am down a bit on no load at 12.30 to 12.40 but 14.14 with lights on is fine. I will see how I get on leaving the side lights or fan on.

Cheers mate - will wait results ! Mark

No mate - standard stereo system on it. So are you saying that when no load is on then the alternator should only give out 12.40 volts ? One other question - if I unlock the car and don't fire her up within a few seconds and then turn the key again she will not start until I lock and unlock the doors again which is a right pain ! Is this normal or am I doing something wrong# ?

It seems to be more of a problem when it is not used for a day or two rather than short journeys which I don't tend to do too many of. So does this alternator differ from usual ones then ?

Cheers folks, If it is an intelligent alternator then why has the battery gone flat ? Is 12.30 volts enough then as I remember now that when I first viewed the car it would not start initially and the guy said that he had left the interior light on but not so sure now. The guy did think it might be a bad earth and it got better when I turned the lights on so he said it might be earthing via the lights but then he tested it and said it was the alternator.

Well folks as previously posted on newbie site - got an 05 sportwagon wrx about amonth ago 110 k with full md history but needing cambelt service. I got a name off here for Tim who used to work for Zen apparently and I supplied the bits - Gates Cambelt, Pulley and Waterpump Kit which I imported from the states for £170 inc bought some plugs oil filter and oil and pipercross air filter and got the whole job done for £480 inc parts which I thought was good. Anyways car sailed through MOT yesterday but then would not start this morning so took it over to a mates garage who tested battery and said it appeared ok then put his meter on with engine running and it was putting out around 12.35 to 12.4 volts ! He said it should be between 12.50 and 13.00. Anyway when i put the lights on it went up to 14.40 so he reckons it is the rectifier on the alternator but if I run under load ie lights on it should be ok for awhile. Your thought s and cost for a replacement alternator ? Knew the MOT was too good to be true eh ! Cheers Mark

OK cheers will take a look tomorrow. I have had windows 'drop' a bit before on various cars.

Fitted me piper cross filter yesterday and while 'fiddling with the car noticed both back windows tilt a bit when they go down and back up - any ideas ? Nothing drastic mind an inch or so. Cheers

Did ask Matt's contact and he was a good price but went with Savage's in the end as he is mobile if need be - both good prices though and very little in it. I am getting all the gear which suits me even though the onus is on me not to f£ck up on bits !