Alternator Problems

[Paul Greenway]

Anyone any ideas on what's involved in changing the alternator on a Thesis JTD.

Driving home from work last Wednesday with approx 30miles to go a bright red battery light appeared in the middle of my dash. Because I was due somewhere, I pushed on hoping I could make it. With 15miles to go a steering wheel emblem appeared with the accompanying words "Variosteer fault,Go to dealer". Still I pressed on, however further warning lights appeared " EBD failure, go to dealer", "ABS failure, Go to dealer", Skyhook suspension failure, go to dealer", airbag failure, go to dealer", followed by the Sat Nav and Radio disappearing, then a warning sign "Stop vehicle immediately, do not continue!" then all the dash lights disappeared, followed by the outside lights approx 7miles from home and then the engine lost power and the car came to a standstill.

The AA managed to get the car going by battery pack to a local Bosch servicing centre garage- one who has serviced previous Lancias of mine, though not the Thesis, but diagnosed suspected alternator failure as the likeliset cause.

The garage is going to commence looking at it tomorrow (the first opportunity), I am at their disposal, but want to know is it a big job to resolve or not?

Answers on a postcard please!

[Parisien]

Paul.............don't hesitate to phone Marios.....he will answer all your questions


P

[donw]

Paul

I sympathise had exactly the same happen to our volvo on Friday, had to be recovered to my local Volvo specialist and am waiting to hear cost of alternator replcement.

Best of luck

Don

[Paul Greenway]

Paul.............don't hesitate to phone Marios.....he will answer all your questions


P

Frank,

If I could have pre-empted what was about to happen, I would have gone straight to Marios, however I couldn't and I am where I am. The problem I have is the garage my car's at is chocca and getting around to looking at my car is posing the biggest issue.

[Parisien]

Paul, pity you didn't get it transported straight to Autoshield on the day....but do phone him anyways, hes very resourceful!


P

[Paul Greenway]

The actual alternator is not the issue, I was wondering if it is a relatively simple fix, e.g. take off a wheel, remove the liner and with a bit of jiggeripokery swap old for new or is it much more laborious and therefore much more costly to replace.
As an aside when Autoshield undertook the major service (belts etc) Mario commented that it was much harder to work on (less room & more awkward) than a Quattroporte or Granturismo or any other Maser come to that.

[Parisien]

Yes, for most bigger/powerful cars having to strip out all and sundry makes it much more expensive to maintain, if access to alternator not easy or not plainly visible, then it could well be a few hours work just to get at it never mind the fix, again, better asking Marios before deciding what to do


P

[lancialulu]

Surely they can diagnose before dismantling??

My bet is the brushes have worn which will be £20 parts and £400 labour to get to the alternator....

[donw]

Got the Volvo back this afternoon, new "power supply" aka alternator, coolant and power steering fluid, needed because so much had to be dismantled to get at it.

Parts £320.86 Labour £ 269 VAT £117.87 total £707.23

Hope yours is no worse, apparently last year the parts would have been double and two years ago four time the price!

Don

[Thotos]

Mario commented that it was much harder to work on (less room & more awkward) than a Quattroporte or Granturismo or any other Maser come to that.

It would be as the Masers are rear wheel drive with everything in-line (and some with the gearbox well out of the way at the back) while the FWD Thesis has everything sideways and piled up front with the driving wheels  

[Paul Greenway]

Car should be ready on Saturday- £515+VAT I have been quoted unless they find something else of course!