[Clumpysnake]

Hi guys,

Well about 2 months ago my R32 was hit whilst parked, they excepted fault etc and it went in for repair at a VW and Audi approved body shop.

A month later I get it back on a Friday evening. Take it straight home, do about 20-30 miles over the weekend so not much at all. Drive to work Monday, about 8 miles, get in end of the day to drive home, start her up and notice it is idling higher than usual.

Half way home air bag light and the brake fault lights come on which was very odd, then 30 meters later radio goes off and then the clocks start to die and then the cars completely dead. I get recovered to my home.

Fast forward and I am told that the alternator has failed internally by the body shops auto services section. Not accident related and nothing to do with them. In fact its because it had the wrong battrery on it, I bought it from a guy that worked at Toyota and it has a Toyota battery fitted, its always started first time never any issues all through the winter.

I have had a lot of words with them and the insurance assessor and got no where. I am having a hard time swallowing this as ive had the car a year and its been 100% fine and they have it a month to repair it and I get it back and this happens.

Not once did the alternator or battery light come on which I would have thought if the alternator wasnt working surely it would have let me know?

Any input would help me here as at the moment they still have my car and I refuse to pay them £500 to fit a new alternator, apart from the fact this has happened they really fucked me around and did a shitty repair on top of all this! Which they say they have sorted... we shall see!

Jonny

 

[CorradoR32]

I really doubt Toyota use a different battery technology to the other car makers and 'wrong battery' is a pretty lame diagnosis of alternator failure anyway. Strikes me as they have no clue why it failed.

Was the car hit at the front? Just wondering if the Alternator's exciter wire got damaged? This is the thin wire from the clocks that starts the alternator charging after the engine's started.

A new alt isn't the end of the world and they can be had from ebay for about 100 quid, but it would be nice to get some deeper analysis from them, or get the car back and take it to a proper auto sparkie for a second opinion.

 

[Guest]

I believe there are 2 battery's that are said to be a fitment for the mk4 R32 one is wrong and causes issues I'm not 100% on the issue but a couple of members have had this experience one namely silver and i think paulie too maybe if they see this he can help you out more

 

[Silver]

Andy is referring to the Bosch batteries. The highest rated / most expensive one listed for the MK4 R32, does not fit the MK4 R32 :/ I'll try to find the part number as I cant remember off the top of my head.

As for your alternator, sounds stupid.. but have you checked the big alternator fuse on top of your battery? I assume someone has? I know it sounds obvious, but I once went to the other end of the country to see Gaz, thinking mine had gone, when it was a damn fuse. Yes, you can all laugh now.

 

[CorradoR32]

Isn't the battery thing just a frame size issue? i.e. what will fit in the cradle and under the cover?

In terms of voltage and current, the R32 alt is happy with any old standard lead acid battery. I had a massive 76AH, non model specfic, battery in my Corrado with an R32 engine in it and that never gave me any troubles.

As above, the alt isn't charging the battery and may actually be OK. If it is actually dead, it'll probably just be the diode pack but I don't think these later style alts are as easily rebuildable like the older ones are.

 

[cuprabob]

The Bosch battery that fits is the 075. As Corrado says above it's just a physical fitment issue and not electrical. ECP site says 096 fits but it doesn't and that's what can cause confusion.

Surprised you didn't get the battery light on in the dash if the alternator isn't charging. It's triggered when the voltage falls.

 

[Clumpysnake]

The body shops garage section has done all the work on the car and they still have it. I personally haven't checked anything on it as it went back to them straight away. All I have been told so far is that they have had the alternator tested and found that it has failed internally and that they don't deem it to be either accident or repair related. The insurance assessor that came to access the car has also said that it is not related to the accident. I have asked what I can do about this and been told I can only get it tested independently at my own cost.

Yes the car was hit from the front, it has has a new drivers side wing, headlight and front bumper, plus they were supposed to be checking the panels behind for damage.

To collect the car I am going to buy a new battery and fit it to drive it home and then I will know what lights are on if any. Its only a shortish drive.

 

[Sabaselfsit]

If your charging relay went you would get the battery light and could drive further until power drained. Sound like a short as it happened so sudden, which blew your fuse. Could solve the issue to change the relay...unoriginal relay is only about £ 13. If that is the case and they know it it is possible they try to sell you a new alternator...so would be helpful to know exactly what they mean by "alternator has failed internally".

 

[Guest]

The Bosch battery that fits is the 075. As Corrado says above it's just a physical fitment issue and not electrical. ECP site says 096 fits but it doesn't jand that's what can cause confusion.

Surprised you didn't get the battery light on in the dash if the alternator isn't charging. It's triggered when the voltage falls.

Strange I have the 096 halfords calcium fitted over 4 years now no fitment issues

 

[cuprabob]

Strange I have the 096 halfords calcium fitted over 4 years now no fitment issues

As I understand it, it's down to the height so possibly the Halfords 096 battery is shorter.

For reference here is the thread discussing it.

http://www.r32oc.com/topic/18597-battery-buying-guide-for-mk4-r32/page__st__30

 

[Guest]

Yea I seen that before and did wonder why mine was fine

 

[sirgalahad1]

Bosch 096 will not fit.......075 is the one to buy.
Nit sure about Halfords own range.