bobtuck

Many thanks for the reply Paul. Alternator is new and correct type http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140983041702?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Was really careful/wary fitting it. Belt in good condition, lined up nicely and do not think it's slipping (nice and firm tension when belt placed back over pulley of new alternator). Engine earth cable clean and tight (turns over well and starts within 2 seconds of cranking). Eying this new battery suspiciously now <_<

Okay can confirm.....the voltmeter in-car is not fubared. Battery at rest (before car start, left overnight) reads 12.2v (a bit too low methinks!). On start up it slowly climbs to 14.24v (takes roughly a couple of minutes)....it does drop back when anything electrical is switched on (demist blower etc.) but corresponds exactly to the dial in the car i.e. dial shows a drop....multimeter also shows a drop down to 13.6v etc. Once car is driven for 5-10 minutes & warmed up the dial sticks at just above mid-way. Turn off for a few minutes then upon restart we begin the process all over again :( Gonna take it into Halfrauds for that 5 point check early next week before calling at Nationa Tyres where I bought the battery....hopefully I'll have some concrete arguing points cos, as usual, they seemed indifferent to my suggestion that 12.2v at rest was too low.

Cheers Paul....get ya now :)

Thanks Paul. I'm sure that's how my voltmeter used to behave before. What it's doing now doesn't make sense to me (large/wild fluctuations in relatively small time periods). Not sure I understand your comments about the cigarette socket plug....do you mean a charger that plugs in there? (attaching voltmeter to other end of plug that normally goes into the device to be charged??) Checked battery earth point (even repeated the process I did to change the bulbs to check for any disturbed wiring) and the alternator wiring was dry and the two connections (on the new one) given a smear of vaseline. Starting to worry me.....and giving that dial too much attention instead of the road ahead!

Hi guys, (2002 2.2 HDi saloon) A few weeks ago after replacing the nearside headlight and sidelight bulbs, which for me necessitate's lowering the front bumper and taking out the entire headlight unit, I had complete electrical failure five minutes after driving the car. Got the message "The battery is not being recharged" or words to that effect and the car just died on me and refused to start...dead as a doornail on turnover except for a chorus of 'bings' and flashing dash lights :( After having the car recovered (thank God I chose that option in my insurance!) I fitted a new heavy duty battery (Platinum Prestige) and new alternator (I'd found a small fuel drip from the filter feed directly above the old alternator a few weeks earlier so decided better safe than sorry). I checked the battery with a multimeter after initially fitting both it and the new alternator. It was 12.42 volts standing and 14.3 volts with engine ticking over. Now the dial indicating the battery condition is behaving crazy! When I start the car from cold the needle on the dial goes slowly (takes about ten seconds) to just past centre....then drops quickly after about 30 seconds back down to zero. It'll repeatedly wander up to halfway (while driving) and drop back to zero again a few times until I've driven for around ten to fifteen minutes....then it stabilises at just over half way on the dial. Surely if this dial is indicating battery 'condition' it cannot fluctuate so quickly? Or is the dial indicating the level of 'charge' the battery's receiving from the alternator?? I'm sure it didn't behave like this before my 'troubles' started....any advice, wisdom or guidance would be gratefully received. Many thanks Bob P.S. If we get a break from this monsoon here in the North East tomorrow I'm gonna get the wife to tell me when that dial indicates a drop....and see if it's confirmed with the multimeter on the battery!

>>>>Confused<<< Bugger!.....given that the 'suck test' (careful now) achieved nowt but making me dizzy (like sucking on a solid rubber pipe...and suprise, suprise, no 'thunk' upon release) does this mean that I can just block off the egr with a solid plate? ....and if so where?? >>>>end my confusion<<<<<<< Ta Bob

Many thanks mechanico. Where exactly would I place the blanking plate? (top front of engine, slightly right??) If I have to get that bloody thing off to blank it I may as well just give it a good clean and try that (pretty sure it's choked up bad). Cheers again! Bob

Got the same problem (only it's a 2.2 HDi).....sucking on that pipe only hurt me ears and made me dizzy (no 'thunk' sound on release either). Thanks to the above for the tip on how to check it. Gonna have to check it in for the egr removal and clean....no bloody way I can get that off! Bob P.S. Who's moderating these forums? So many issues :angry:

Derek you're a genius! It was driving me daft, thanks :) Bob

P.S. If I can be of any help I will, don't hesitate to give us a shout.

Hi Coastline (you in Hartlepool? I'm not that far..near Alston). Re. backing up your data/programs it depends to a large extent on what operating system you're running. If it's Window 7 its built right in. All you have to do is elect WHAT to back up, WHERE TO and HOW OFTEN. Pretty easy. It's best to send data to an external drive (relatively cheap now) that you can easily physically disconnect/unplug (that way it's completely safe from outside malware....as long as you remember to isolate it when not in use). Good anti virus software should pick up anything malicious before it can do any damage....again not <too> expensive. I use 'ESET Smart Security', one of the best and for very reasonable cost. The size of your back ups PLUS the back up type dictate the capacity of your external drive. Look into incremental and differential back up types.....choice is yours. If you aren't on Win 7 there are many (some freeware) programs to handle backing up your data. It's 'horses for courses' after this point. As an added safeguard (external drives can and do go t*t's up) burn your backed up data to DVD media periodically. Have fun ;) Bob

Many thanks fellas! I was wrong about the pump damage...there's a post here link but it refers to <possible> resovoir/tank splits due to overfilling and buggered suspension seals if incorrect fluid used. Sorry for any confusion. Bob

Anybody? Bob

Whilst looking for some guidance on this issue (in this forum) I definitely read, in one of the posts, the comment that overfilling can damage the pump. Can't remember the poster (Coastline taxi's perhaps?) but it is certainly stated somewhere here (would do a search but it appears to be broke). Would it be possible for someone with an RP number of 09065 or later perhaps take a look at their level? Is it at the seam or to bottom of basket?? (Johndouglas, please don't take this as my doubting your credibility m8 (as if you would!) I very much appreciate your help). Bob

Many thanks John, My RP is 09339CJ....so my level should be to the bottom of the basket? It's currently sitting midway (equal to the seam....wonder if it's been topped/refilled incorrectly in the past?) Sorry for the paranoia! Bob

Can someone please clarify what the correct level of the LDS fluid should be? I've searched here (manually 'cos the search function seems broke) and seem to see conflicting advice... Some report the level should be in line with the seam/rib midway around the resovoir tank with car on lowest height setting (car icon with 'STOP' seen on multi display). Others claim the fluid should be just at the bottom of the resovoir filler basket, again with car at lowest height. That's a big difference in levels....especially if overfilling can knacker yer pump up! Have I read wrong? Advice much appreciated. Bob

Seems to be a very common problem....I also had it when I bought the car (2002 2.2 HDI SX) a few weeks ago :( My fix was to take the inner spring out of an old, buggered thermostat I had laid around the garage (you know you have 'em too) and cut this down, with a hacksaw, so that it gave me just the right amount of 'resistance'. It fitted perfectly into the space inside the gear knob head, the collar on the gear shaft then pushes against this spring when lifted to engage reverse....and snaps....very reassuringly....back down when disengaged. Bob

I'd like to know this Mikey....could you possibly post here? Many thanks. Bob

Great stuff....thanks Bob! Bob

Could one of the moderators please look into the following problem? Whenever I use the 'Search' facility I get a list of results....but upon clicking any I go to a blank page with "404 - File or directory not found." I've tried with both Firefox and IE to no avail....both exhibit the same behaviour! Many thanks Bob

Cheers bud :)

Any chance of the fleabay sellers name m8? Bob

Thanks Paul. Have no warning messages on the car (not a given that it's fault free I know). It's something to think about (is the filter an integral part of the exhaust or seperate?....already spotted the eolys tank). I tried the egr blank off/disconnection trick last night. Made maybe a very, very slight difference...probably normal and to be expected....so I don't think it's that. MAF....although clean is there a way of testing it with a multi meter for correct operation anyone? Thanks again. Bob P.S. this forum is really starting to pay up with me....search results go to 404 errors, link to this C5 area dead etc. etc. ??

Thanks fellas. MAF is clean as a whistle.....very slight discolouration of the two fine wires only....gave a short blast of brake cleaner nevertheless. Can't find any leaks anywhere (but I don't profess to be an expert at leak finding). Looked at and felt all the pipes/tubes/rubber junctions I could find....nothing. Plastic rod/ball joint from diaphragm still securely attached....watched it rotate into position on engine start. Didn't find the attached pipe in order to perform a 'suck test' (steady now) but moving the plastic rod carefully in and out (engine off obviously) I can hear, or to be mnore precise 'feel', a very faint 'bellows' sound so I'm assuming that's OK? No error messages. At a bit of a loss now (was really hoping to find a sooty, gunged up maf) but that engine looks like new....has obviously been well cared for. Took it out again today....drives lovely in all gears, but hit a bit of a hill in fifth with the speed/revs slighlty low (around 50'ish) and it just runs out of steam very, very quickly and necessitates a change down (sometimes into third). It'll pull like hell in 1st, 2nd, 3rd..... Confused!!! Bob

Many thanks Mosher....I'm hoping this won't come in handy ;) Bob