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Introduction - and help with Alternator issue	Please Register to enjoy additional Member Benefits

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Mizen

Wed Feb 12 2014, 04:26pm

Joined: Jan 14 2014

Member No: #1541

Location: Berkshire

Hi there -I've recently acquired a beautiful blue 2.7 HDI Exclusive that I first saw advertised on this forum.

Am using it as a daily commuter and have already clocked up 1,300 comfy miles in 3 weeks or so.

However, this morning I hit my first fault. I got the warning "battery charge fault", and after checking with a multimeter I can see the voltage barely rises when the engine is started.

Because it isn't charging I assume I haven't got far until I have everything dies, and I lose engine/power steering/lights, etc. So I'm not keen to drive it from my village near Newbury to Reading or Slough where the nearest decent specialists are. Or pay for a tow for that matter!

So - am driving it a few miles to a local garage on Friday and giving them a look. They're highly rated, but not a Citroen specialists. My questions were:

- From other threads it looks like most likely fault for the battery not being charged for a 65k well maintained car would be the belt, or clutch, rather than the whole unit? Does anyone have a perspective to share (want to make sure the garage is armed with enough info, and I'm protected from them taking the mick!)

- Does anybody have experience of how long the car would last with the Battery Charge Fault light, and no evidence of the battery charging? Assume no more than 20 mins or so, and I shouldn't risk it.

Finally, completely unrelated points that have been bugging me in my first weeks of ownership:

1. Are there fog lights, and if so how do I turn them on?

2. What on earth is the lower suspension option for besides making the car look good in photographs!? It just rises again when you drive off..!

Apart from the car unfortunately proving all the doubters who advised me against it right by quickly breaking within weeks, am loving the thing otherwise - and hope to put many more miles and years on it. Last owner put an MOT on it and completed a service, so once this is fixed there are reasons to be optimistic..!

C6Dave United Kingdom

Wed Feb 12 2014, 06:47pm

Joined: Oct 01 2009

Member No: #1

Location: Northumberland

1. on the lighting stalk there are 2 rotating switches.

The outer is the lights, the inner is the front and rear fog lights.

2. Lift the car, put a block under and then lower it and you can change a wheel without a jack....... but I have never tried it!!

josok

Wed Feb 12 2014, 07:48pm

Joined: Mar 07 2013

Member No: #1222

Location: Ukonjärventie 141 99800 Ivalo

Had the same problem a few months ago. The car will not last for more as 30 minutes without charging. The fuel comsumptiion was noticeably lower too! My favourite dealer is 400 miles away, and the local guys were fully booked.
So after considering all the options and reading what i could find about this particular problem, i decided to change the alternator myself. Ordered one from the dealer, at 3 x the going ebay price but next day delivery. It's not a nice job, but it can be done. Afterwards it became clear that it was the clutch.
Have the clutch now, from ebay, and still have to buy or borrow the tool do the changeover.
Anybody willing to lend that tool to me? PM please

gmerry Scotland

Wed Feb 12 2014, 08:19pm

Joined: Dec 11 2009

Member No: #21

Location: Scotland

Jos, I have the splined tool but best bet would be to buy one off ebay, check this link
- Click Here -

regards
G

josok

Thu Feb 13 2014, 04:01am

Joined: Mar 07 2013

Member No: #1222

Location: Ukonjärventie 141 99800 Ivalo

Thanks GMerry,
This seller is not interested in selling outside the UK. Happens all the time on Ebay UK. Europe seems to be a bad word in the UK. However, found this seller on ebay Germany. Even cheaper, and DHL is making more money.

cruiserphil Ireland

Thu Feb 13 2014, 09:47pm

Joined: Jan 24 2010

Member No: #38

Location: Celbridge

Mizen,

If you make the run, make sure you have the battery fully charged before leaving. Try and keep the journey to 15 - 20 mins max and in daylight to avoid using headlamps. Oh and drop your driver's window a few inches so that if the battery caves you don't break the window opening/closing the door!

If the garage slacken the auxiliary belt they should be able to test the pulley by hand. To check, they can get hand access to the pulley from underneath the car.

But if they lift it with all wheels hanging, make certain to slacken the cap on the LDS reservoir before the lift to avoid a burst tank.

If it is the pulley it can be changed in situ (check my recent post with photo on this! - Click Here - ).

Best of luck,

Phil C.


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