Terraced streets, busy buses and flat batteries in Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath has plenty of older petrol and diesel cars and a lot of private-hire mileage, and both put alternators through a hard life. Hours spent in the queues at Thornton Heath Pond or crawling along Brigstock Road behind buses keep the engine at idle, where output is lowest, while the air conditioning, lights and phone chargers keep drawing current. Over time the brushes wear, the bearings get rough and the regulator starts to let voltage drift. The first sign is often a dimming dash at the lights or the battery light flickering on and off.
On the narrow Victorian terraces around Broad Green and off the A236 Mitcham Road, a flat battery is more of a nuisance than usual, because getting a second car alongside for a jump start is rarely possible. Cars used for a quick run to Thornton Heath Library or the leisure centre and back don't give the alternator long enough to recharge after starting, so a weak unit can go unnoticed until one morning the car simply won't turn over.
When the car arrives, we test battery health, alternator output at idle and with loads on, and look for ripple that points to a failed diode. We also check the main cable and earth connections, as corrosion on older cars is common and far cheaper to fix than a new alternator. Once we know the cause, you get a written quote. Alternators are OE-specification, new or quality remanufactured, and we fit a new auxiliary belt with each one.
The route is Thornton Road to the Lombard roundabout, then the A236 west past Therapia Lane and across Mitcham Common before turning onto Carshalton Road into Hackbridge, around 5 miles. On Crystal Palace home match days, roads near Selhurst Park close before kick-off, so let us know if the car is parked nearby and we'll time any collection around it. Our 3-month workmanship warranty covers the repair.