Hi,

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

1 year ago my car just died. All the warning lights came on (brake failure / battery etc) and the engine just petered out. The battery had died because the alternator wasn't charging it.

After a good charge, it got going again but all the electrics were dimmer / slower than usual. I happened to be overtaking someone and revved the engine past 4k / 5k and noticed all the dash lights brightening and the force of the air coming out the heater becoming stronger.

Every time I start the car, I have to rev it up to bring the alternator online. It works every time and only has to be done once every trip. There's no variation in alternator output with engine speed. It just works!

My girlfriend forgot to do this the other day and it died again. The battery was ok-ish but turning the key did nothing. Not a click. We jump started it no problem and it's been fine since.

In the past, we occasionally had the 'no event' when turning the key but jump starting always got it going. Once it's going, we can turn off the engine and it'll restart no problem. However, we never know when it's going to refuse to start without a push. Always a worry when sitting in rush-hour traffic.

It's had a new starter solenoid, starter diagnosed as ok and new drive belts. The alternator works - except we have to rev the engine like a boy-racer every time we start her up.

Does anyone have any ideas of what could remedy this?

740GL Estate - 1989/90 - 200k Miles - 1986cc