giles
Active member
Hi Folks,
I’m now in Kirchberg Austria at the fab Hotel Zentral, but the 360 only made it to Munich, head in hands emoji!
Driving along the autobahn at modest speeds, I did take a couple of faster stabs at a few sections, seeing 140mph at which point the car felt perfectly stable and planted with no undue noises or anything to raise the heart rate. So it was great to stretch its legs but it may have cooked its goose too!
So my mechanical problem presented like this…. the following morning after the dash into Germany I fired up the 360 but with the ASR and ABS warnings lighting up which I thought was unusual but not unheard off, usually linked with low battery voltage but in my mind I was thinking that I had just done a long trip….. then the battery warning light came on, then off, and then randomly on and off….. so I knew I hadn’t thrown an alternator belt or it would have been on solid…. so I continued on to Austria. On the approach to Munich the battery light started flashing (but I noticed at speeds above 55mph ish, below which the flashing light went out.
A quick Google identified the Supercar Garage in Munich being a good shout, so a quick update of the nav and we were heading to an unknown but well reviewed garage.
The guys there were stacked with cars (inc a McL P1, Porsche 959, Lambo M, 458 and 296) but they jumped on my car straightaway.
They quickly identified my battery as being toasted, 1% state of health but with 100% state of charge but critically at very very high (dangerously high) temperature.
So the workshop Manager Oliver gave me a lift round the corner to buy a new Bosch battery. New battery fitted, and while being tested they found that above about 2.2k rpm the 13.4v charging rate jumped to 17.5v, essentially over charging the battery, causing the excessive heat in the battery, conclusion the alternator was knackered, well the voltage regulator was toast requiring a new alternator. These cars run a Denso unit with an internal regulator so it can’t be easily fixed.
The guys at The Supercar Garage have sourced one (about €250, which is better than the main dealer quote of €940!) and will be delivered either today (which is the day after the breakdown) or tomorrow. So hopefully all in hand, but we will see! By the way I’ve also lost my clutch pedal after motorway drives but a quick and frantic pumping of the pedal gets it back, admittedly this is not for the faint hearted. If they can spot something they will try to resolve but I’m happy keeping an eye on the clutch fluid level and rapid pumping when needed. I’ve just had a new clutch cylinder so it might be the thrust bearing washer seal or suchlike but it’ll probably get me home.
It’ll be fine, I’ll update when I know more, but for now, a hire car beckons.
‘lit up like a Christmas tree’
Toasted battery
Alternative transport?
I feel really sorry for Steve and Clare in their 488 who we are touring with as they had to sit and wait while this all unfolded, but onwards and upwards, it’ll all be fine!
Cheers, Giles
I’m now in Kirchberg Austria at the fab Hotel Zentral, but the 360 only made it to Munich, head in hands emoji!
Driving along the autobahn at modest speeds, I did take a couple of faster stabs at a few sections, seeing 140mph at which point the car felt perfectly stable and planted with no undue noises or anything to raise the heart rate. So it was great to stretch its legs but it may have cooked its goose too!
So my mechanical problem presented like this…. the following morning after the dash into Germany I fired up the 360 but with the ASR and ABS warnings lighting up which I thought was unusual but not unheard off, usually linked with low battery voltage but in my mind I was thinking that I had just done a long trip….. then the battery warning light came on, then off, and then randomly on and off….. so I knew I hadn’t thrown an alternator belt or it would have been on solid…. so I continued on to Austria. On the approach to Munich the battery light started flashing (but I noticed at speeds above 55mph ish, below which the flashing light went out.
A quick Google identified the Supercar Garage in Munich being a good shout, so a quick update of the nav and we were heading to an unknown but well reviewed garage.
The guys there were stacked with cars (inc a McL P1, Porsche 959, Lambo M, 458 and 296) but they jumped on my car straightaway.
They quickly identified my battery as being toasted, 1% state of health but with 100% state of charge but critically at very very high (dangerously high) temperature.
So the workshop Manager Oliver gave me a lift round the corner to buy a new Bosch battery. New battery fitted, and while being tested they found that above about 2.2k rpm the 13.4v charging rate jumped to 17.5v, essentially over charging the battery, causing the excessive heat in the battery, conclusion the alternator was knackered, well the voltage regulator was toast requiring a new alternator. These cars run a Denso unit with an internal regulator so it can’t be easily fixed.
The guys at The Supercar Garage have sourced one (about €250, which is better than the main dealer quote of €940!) and will be delivered either today (which is the day after the breakdown) or tomorrow. So hopefully all in hand, but we will see! By the way I’ve also lost my clutch pedal after motorway drives but a quick and frantic pumping of the pedal gets it back, admittedly this is not for the faint hearted. If they can spot something they will try to resolve but I’m happy keeping an eye on the clutch fluid level and rapid pumping when needed. I’ve just had a new clutch cylinder so it might be the thrust bearing washer seal or suchlike but it’ll probably get me home.
It’ll be fine, I’ll update when I know more, but for now, a hire car beckons.
‘lit up like a Christmas tree’
Toasted battery
Alternative transport?
I feel really sorry for Steve and Clare in their 488 who we are touring with as they had to sit and wait while this all unfolded, but onwards and upwards, it’ll all be fine!
Cheers, Giles
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. Hope the rest of the trip is troublesome free and look to pick your brains on routes etc!
