High mileage and idling around Croydon's Old Town
Croydon has a lot of cars that work for a living. Private-hire and delivery drivers covering the town centre spend hours queuing around the Old Town, past Croydon Minster, and waiting near the stations with the air conditioning, phone chargers and lights running. That's heavy electrical demand at idle, when the alternator is turning slowest, and it's one of the main reasons alternators on high-mileage cars wear out sooner than on a car used for weekend trips. Heat plays a part too, because an alternator relies on airflow for cooling and gets far less of it crawling through traffic.
Traffic on the A236 Mitcham Road towards the Lombard roundabout adds to it, and so do the trams. Waiting at tram signals near the Whitgift Almshouses or on the town-centre loop means more time stationary with everything switched on. Many full hybrids charge their 12-volt battery without a conventional alternator, but most petrol and diesel cars still rely on a belt-driven unit, and its bearings, brushes and pulley feel every one of those hours.
For a working car, time off the road costs money. We test first so you're not paying for parts you don't need, then give you a written quote and a realistic time. Many alternators are a couple of hours' work, though some engines need more dismantling. We fit OE-specification units and a new belt, then retest charging with the air conditioning and lights on before handing the car back. If you need the car urgently, tell us when you book and we'll be straight with you about timings.
The route is the Croydon Flyover west onto Duppas Hill Road, straight over Fiveways onto Croydon Road through Waddon and Beddington, then right onto the A237 at Wallington Green, about 4.5 miles. If the car has died on a red route, we can arrange recovery and give you an honest ETA. The repair is covered by our 3-month workmanship warranty.