alternator trouble.....urgent help needed.

[smudgerbongo]

Good morning all.My wife,sister and niece set off in the bongo on a camping trip to Devon at 5-00am this morning(we are near Birmingham)and she has just called me to say that the charge and sediment lights come on intermittently.Having just done a search of the forum i gather that this means the alternator is about to pack up.I have a few questions to ask if anyone can help please.Is the bongo likely to cut out on the motorway?Do the lights coming on mean that it is just on its way out and we have a few days/weeks to sort it or does it need doing immediately?She is going to be staying at a campsite not far from Torquay,does anyone know any mechanics/bongo parts suppliers who may be able to help in that area?Is the best course of action to stay put on the camp-site when she gets there or will she be able to travel to a garage to get it looked at?
I am not joining them down there until thursday evening so feel a bit in limbo(not that i know diddly squat about motors).Any help/advice will be massively appreciated,thanks.

Andy

[smudgerbongo]

Hi again.I have further developements.'Er indoors has just called me from the services to say that the light may come on 2 or 3 times every 5 mins or so but when she puts her toe down they don't seem to come on at all.It couldn't just be a wiring fault could it?

[jaylee]

It certainly wont do any harm to check the battery terminals ain't lose..!??

But i'd guess the alternators going..? It should push out about 14.5V to the battery?

[munroman]

Maybe loose fan belts?

[wishmaster]

Hi Andy, can your family call into one of the recommended bongo specialists on the way down, slight detour might be well worth your time , Bell Hill garages in bath comes to mind tel:01373 834252, they could check it out for you and if needed have a replacement in stock. Worth a call dont you think

Good luck

Izzy

[smudgerbongo]

Thanks for the help and advice so far.They have now arrived at the campsite so Bell Hill Garage is probably a little out of the way now,but thank you anyway and it's worth bearing in mind for later.I think she is planning on getting set up on the site and then taking it to a local garage to get checked out.She also says that the lights were coming on less and less.

[missfixit70]

Quick day trip down to Plymouth should be in order IMO, give Allans a shout, top Bongo mechanic.