BigJimny Diagnosis Required Please - all sorts going on!

Hi folks,

Had some problems with the Jimny today sadly. symptoms/events;

- Stopped somewhere on way home and when restarted it wouldn't start/turn over easily (thought battery)
- Missus lugs 2 kids up to me so I can jump start with her car (starts easy with jump start)
- Follows me home approx. 2 miles. Last mile headlights are dimming badly, slight burning smell and both ABS and battery light are on
- Get home stop engine try and start again and just clicking
- Try and start again and no clicking (nothing at all)
-Call AA: he diagnoses alternator drive belt which is still in place but you can see debris everywhere (cause of burning smell). He tightened a little with alternator adjustment
- He says battery is fine and holding charge so alternator fine
- EML light is now on (code reader says crank position sensor). It can be cleared but comes straight back. ABS and battery light no longer on.
- Would only start whilst connected to his power and could not be left to idle otherwise it would stall

SO we got it to a trusted garage down the road from me and keys through the letter box, hopefully they open tomorrow. Bit of a strange set of symptom's. Wondering if it's my crank pulley on the way out and setting all these things off?

Any thoughts from the club so I'm well equipped with info please?

Cheers
Mark

Ok thanks gents. A sensor and belt doesn't sound too painful - Lets hope it doesn't hurt the wallet too much then.

Promised a pal I would take him greenlining on Sunday too which is what I'm more concerned about.. was looking forward to converting him to the ways of the Jimny

Hope you get it sorted mate

Sounds like its time to get the big hammer out Mark.

Tbf this is literally the only issue I have ever had with the Jimny (apart from self inflicted stuff). Hopefully fix her up good and back out fighting fit again!

Rubber mallet at the ready

You didnt mention any belt squeal? Ive never known a belt to be slipping without making noise. The symptoms do seem alternator related and as 11/60 said the sensor was probably damaged by the AA man.

Yes the belt had been squeeling when cold/wet for about a year. Sprayed it with that sticky belt spray a few times.

Id say thats the problem then, it could be the pulley is worn on the end of the alternator which cant be changed so you'll need an alternator, it could also be the crankshaft pulley is on its way out which would be a common enough problem, its a 2 part pulley and the binding breaks down between the two causing it to run untrue and belts slip.

And Id say you need a crank position sensor, an other member broke thiers recently while tensioning thier belt.

Well they have changed sensor and belt. Said they couldn’t see any evidence of pulleys seizing. It now runs fine when driven but idles REALLY low - 300rpm

It generally stalls but with patience I managed to get it to run at 300rpm. Any ideas folks? Just needs a good run maybe?

Planning on laning tomorrow but don’t think I can if it doesn’t start to idle a bit better

Idling ok now so fingers crossed