Waiting For Tow Truck

[Essex chelle]

Car flat as anything, called out green flag whom come an hour ago tried to jump start, car started but it's not holding charge, man thinks its alternator, however Westfield lexus specialist whom we always use have said its very unlikely to be the alternator but they gonna check it out, so the wait now for tow truck to take the car to them, Battery was new in feb, but we have had the car stored a lot of the summer in the garage.

[Stuart Aspey]

Fingers crossed it's sorted quickly with no other hidden issues. Why had you garaged it? I would've thought the weather was good enough for the roof down?

(if the question does not require a response, I shaln't be upset if there isn't one) lol.

[Essex chelle]

My daughter went to turkey to work for the summer back in June, and being the good mum I am I took over her car financial commitments to help her out, it seems the best thing was for me to drive about her little Clio, so I SORN the lexus when the tax ran out in July and popped her away, the car was started regular but not taken for any drives obviously coz of the SORN.

I then broke my leg, so the car was definitely not used. Daughter is home on Friday, leg is healed, tax is on car - car is dead :(

Tow truck just taken her away to car hospital fingers crossed it's not the alternator.

[Stuart Aspey]

Cool, Good to hear your better too. It's been a busy summer!?! Bet you're looking forward to driving the SC after having the Clio for the summer?

[jeffreyt]

got caught out exactly the same when I first got the SC,car stood for about 6 weeks ,just started it once a week but Battery finally went totally flat and I mean FLAT.

Luckily I keep a spare Battery charged up in the garage and I put it in and the car was fine.

As your Battery is fairly new it should charge up again if the garage put it on a low charge for a couple of days.

The chances of it being your alternator are close to zero.

I am afraid you have found out the hard way this is the Achilles heel of these cars.If you leave them for more than a week the Battery drain means you could have a non starter.

I now disconnect the Battery if the car stands for more than 3 days,its a pain in the .... but I don't have any more flat Battery problems.

[ManicMark]

Car flat as anything, called out green flag whom come an hour ago tried to jump start, car started but it's not holding charge, man thinks its alternator, however Westfield lexus specialist whom we always use have said its very unlikely to be the alternator but they gonna check it out, so the wait now for tow truck to take the car to them, battery was new in feb, but we have had the car stored a lot of the summer in the garage.

Hope you got it sorted out, Not the best of days to have a break down, if there is ever a good one.

[Essex chelle]

Well confirmed its alternator - great!!!!!! In Westfield now till Tuesday so the clio it is for bit longer.

[jeffreyt]

chele, that's a real bummer.

I am not in a position to question the integrity of this diagnosis but I would love to get your 'faulty' alternator on the bench and examine it to find out just why it failed.

Hope it doesn't break the bank.

[ManicMark]

Well confirmed its alternator - great!!!!!! In Westfield now till Tuesday so the clio it is for bit longer.

Hi Chele Auto electrics at 361 High road Ilford 02085535605 would recon the alternator for you for around £80 if the price of the new alternator is a bit to rich. I have used them in the past & my mate (mobile mechanic uses them on a regular bassis.)

[Essex chelle]

Thanks but too late Westfield now working on her, £530 inc labour new lexus alternator (which was actually cheaper than other makes) and the diagnostic. I'm still bit concerned though, they had it on charge overnight got it to 13v ran the car for 20 mins then turned off left for 20 mins and checked Battery and it was reading 10v. Me I thinking the Battery is naff now that we have damaged it by letting it go completey flat and then bump starting. What do u think?

[Stuart Aspey]

Hmm. not wanting to think that Lexus would rip anyone off, but I wonder whether it was the Battery and not the alternator anyway? . . . .

[Essex chelle]

Got car back on Friday total cost including diagnosis was £460.