Alternator Woes

**denzo** · 9th October 2007, 19:47

I was in London today ... wife rang to say that when she was driving the battery light came on and went off and came on again.

She took it to our favourite and trustworthy independent Garage mechanic who diagnosed the alternator failing ... reading 11V instead of 12V and other tests indicated that it was on the way out.

He tried to get a Vx alternator from a dealer - they wanted to charge him £450 trade for it.

Instead he is sourcing a Bosch one for £320ish it should be here tomorrow. How long will it take to fit?

Car was out of warranty last month ... don't even want to try and get a good will gesture out of Vx ...

Anyone else had an Alternator go on their Vectra?

**Gsi3.2** · 9th October 2007, 20:45

there's even a recall on alternators on 150 CDTi's for exactly the fault you're having..

..

It's worth a quick phonecall in the morning to see if your car comes under the scope of the recall.. if it does, you get a new alternator fitted for free..

..

don't worry about the warranty side of it.. that doesn't affect the recall..

**denzo** · 9th October 2007, 22:23

Do you have the recall reference and link please? Have ordered the Bosch one now ....

**Gsi3.2** · 9th October 2007, 22:26

http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showpo...94&postcount=7

info as found out by Plasma..

**denzo** · 9th October 2007, 22:40

Thanks I didn't know about that ..... the independent guy has now gone and ordered the Bosch one.

**denzo** · 9th October 2007, 22:47

Naturally Vx didn't offer this information .... just quoted £450 for a new alternator.

Shame you can't just replace the diode ... and why does it do it when it is just our of warranty ......

Looks like 10's of thousands of cars are fitted with the dodgy alternator

**Gsi3.2** · 9th October 2007, 22:49

Bu##er...

does your car fall under the scope of that notice then Denzo??

**denzo** · 9th October 2007, 22:55

it does come under the scope for the VIN - but I have agreed to get the independent fit the Bosch one now ... will feel a bit bad cancelling now it is ordered and arguing with Vx about this replacement notice ... especially since the independent guy has servied the car for the past 2 years (with Vx parts) ... my dealer sucks ...PLP Warrington (Now Lookers) Don't really want the hassle of arguing or letting the incosiderate Techs get their hands on my car

**Gsi3.2** · 9th October 2007, 22:57

yep, rock and a hard place matey..

...but i understand where your coming from..

**denzo** · 9th October 2007, 23:01

Well I'll pay £320 + Labour for a Job well done ... not that I needed to - but at least his thread proves that my independent guy knows what he is talking about and diagnosing rather than the flaming Vx Dealer.

Any more significant recalls for the 1.9CDTi ...?

Cheers