Bodgery

Last night Angus’ Jimny wouldn’t start. We jump started it. Well, we jump started it eventually - initially, I connected the jump leads incorrectly. Once started, though, the charge light on the dashboard didn’t go out, and soon after disconnecting the jump leads, the engine stopped.

We checked the fuses. One was blown, but changing it made no difference to the charging status. Had I destroyed the alternator? Was the battery completely goosed?

We put the battery on charge overnight. It started the car, but the charge light was still on. The multimeter showed an insufficient voltage when the engine was running. It’s looking like the alternator is the problem.

Then Nick, in his inimitable way, innocently asks “isn’t that cable supposed to be connected?”

At some point someone has installed a replacement alternator. The charging cable was too short to reach the new alternator terminal, so they have installed an extension - a piece of thin steel with a hole drilled in it. The bolt that had connected the cable to the extension is no longer there.

We reconnect the cable with bolt, nut, and spring washer. Start the engine and the charge light goes off. Result!

Extra good news is that the fuse I fixed was for the ABS and the Jimny now drives like it used to. Only question left is why the ABS fuse blew in the first place.