Hi all.
My 2003 UZJ100R had the alternator die today.
Symptoms were the radio kept dropping out - I initially assumed it was the radio station losing signal, but then I realized the stereo was blanking out completely, i.e turning off.
At the next intersection, the car died completely.
I managed to roll it out of the traffic and checked the battery, which was very flat - putting a multimeter on it, when I tried to crank it, it would drop to below 10v immediately.
I called the RACT - our local roadside assist, and they confirmed it wasn't just a loose negative terminal, but that the alternator had failed.
They jump started it, but the battery kept dropping in volts.
The fuse tested OK.
So, it was towed to my mechanic.
He replaced the alternator, and I had it back that afternoon.
However, on the drive home, while climbing a short, steep hill in a residential street, I noticed the car losing power.
I tried to accelerate a bit more, to try to get past some parked cars, so I could pull off the road, but I had lost all acceleration, and I could smell something bad.
I immediately turned off the engine, put on the hazard lights, and hopped out, directing the traffic around me.
With the help of a passing motorist, I managed to roll the car back about 20 meters downhill in neutral to a park off the roadway.
When I popped the bonnet, it was a mess, liquid everywhere - sprayed over the firewall, bonnet, bash plates, and pretty much everywhere else.
At first I thought it was a blown head gasket or similar, however, after checking the oil, and the coolant, they were both fine, however when I checked the ATF dipstick, it was completely dry.
The mechanic came out and has towed it, on a flatbed, back to his garage, and assumes that, when they replaced the alternator, and the drive belt, the junior mechanic who worked on it must have bent one of the ATF lines, near the radiator, out of the way to gain access, and must have ruptured the line.
I had drove approximately 10km from the garage to where I broke down, with no issue, and only noticed it on the (fairly short, 300m or so) steep hill, when it... went downhill (pun intended).
My question is, what is the likelihood of damage to the transmission from that sudden, and I guess brief, episode?
The mechanic seems to think that replacing that damaged ATF line, and refilling the transmission fluid, should resolve it, but I am concerned that there may be some permanent damage to the transmission.
I heard no unusual sounds, no grinding, or the like, just a lack of acceleration, and very shortly afterwards, no ability to move, when I then shut off the engine.
I hope he is right, but feeling pretty deflated and disappointed after breaking down twice in one day, from two different issues.
Any thoughts appreciated.
My 2003 UZJ100R had the alternator die today.
Symptoms were the radio kept dropping out - I initially assumed it was the radio station losing signal, but then I realized the stereo was blanking out completely, i.e turning off.
At the next intersection, the car died completely.
I managed to roll it out of the traffic and checked the battery, which was very flat - putting a multimeter on it, when I tried to crank it, it would drop to below 10v immediately.
I called the RACT - our local roadside assist, and they confirmed it wasn't just a loose negative terminal, but that the alternator had failed.
They jump started it, but the battery kept dropping in volts.
The fuse tested OK.
So, it was towed to my mechanic.
He replaced the alternator, and I had it back that afternoon.
However, on the drive home, while climbing a short, steep hill in a residential street, I noticed the car losing power.
I tried to accelerate a bit more, to try to get past some parked cars, so I could pull off the road, but I had lost all acceleration, and I could smell something bad.
I immediately turned off the engine, put on the hazard lights, and hopped out, directing the traffic around me.
With the help of a passing motorist, I managed to roll the car back about 20 meters downhill in neutral to a park off the roadway.
When I popped the bonnet, it was a mess, liquid everywhere - sprayed over the firewall, bonnet, bash plates, and pretty much everywhere else.
At first I thought it was a blown head gasket or similar, however, after checking the oil, and the coolant, they were both fine, however when I checked the ATF dipstick, it was completely dry.
The mechanic came out and has towed it, on a flatbed, back to his garage, and assumes that, when they replaced the alternator, and the drive belt, the junior mechanic who worked on it must have bent one of the ATF lines, near the radiator, out of the way to gain access, and must have ruptured the line.
I had drove approximately 10km from the garage to where I broke down, with no issue, and only noticed it on the (fairly short, 300m or so) steep hill, when it... went downhill (pun intended).
My question is, what is the likelihood of damage to the transmission from that sudden, and I guess brief, episode?
The mechanic seems to think that replacing that damaged ATF line, and refilling the transmission fluid, should resolve it, but I am concerned that there may be some permanent damage to the transmission.
I heard no unusual sounds, no grinding, or the like, just a lack of acceleration, and very shortly afterwards, no ability to move, when I then shut off the engine.
I hope he is right, but feeling pretty deflated and disappointed after breaking down twice in one day, from two different issues.
Any thoughts appreciated.
