Due to a family illness we were on our way '
home' for xms to the
Atherton tablelands from
Canberra where we currently live.
We took the most direct route north thru Dubbo,
Walgett,
Hebel,
Roma,
Emerald, Charters Towers in our 2006 1KZ Prado. Now the vehicle is normally very reliable and we have travelled many outback and Northern areas many in 4wd.
however this time just after passing
Hebel (qld/nsw border) we had a xmas tree dash so we turned around and went back to
Hebel where we turned off the Prado.
Guess wot - no more start nothing nada. Oh
well lifted bonnet checked all connections etc etc- result 1 dead battery and still showing charge going thru.
I had a dual battery which I swapped over and make fit as LH fittings. started up all seemed ok. Off we go, stopped in
St George for lunch. went to start, xmas tree dash again. Now as this is 2pm on the Sunday before xmas we were lucky to find a garage closing but no mechanic etc on duty. this time both batteries stuffed and voltmeter still showing adequate charge. V V baffled, anyway bought a new battery and fitted, hoping no other gremlins raise their heads, got to
Roma for the night.
Next morning xmas tree dash again.
Oh bugger, this time anyway was a weekday albeit in
Roma 2 days before Xmas. Got the Prado to Blacks Toyota who accepted the challenge to get us going, great service and very good people willing to fit me in and help. It turned out that the Alternator was stuffed and one battery had 'ballooned out'. BUT no alternator in Oz for 6-8 weeks (oh bleep time') The nice woman behind the service desk then rang repco, supercheap and some oyhers that were open again no part until a couple of weeks after Xmas.
I asked if there ws an auto lecy in town, turns out there was but on holidays. I walked around there anyway hoping to catch a break but Yep they were closed. On the walk back to Toyota I saw an Agri
shop open with the same name as the auto lecy, turns out they were brothers. After explaing my situation they gave their brother a call and he came in, opened up and had an alternator in stock which I bought.
Took it to toyota got it fitted as
well as a new battery etc no further Problems. Got '
home' xmas eve 8:00 pm.
Long story but I had to put out a big note of thanks to the staff of Blacks Toyota
Roma for their time and effort to diagnose and get my vehicle going, nothing was too much bother. My biggest thanks tho is to the Dore brothers for listening and taking the time to come in from holidays and open up and get the available part.
Regards
Michael