1) Diagnostic machine to check for location of fault £35
2) one hour to check for any obvious faults and relays, loose or corroded wires etc. £40
3) replace corroded wire at alternator £20
4) run bypass switch to relay £60
5) total £155 for 3 to 4 hours work, so he says
Not sure if this is the going rate but it seems a little steep to me
I think I should have been a auto electrician not a bricklayer
Thanks for the help, hope the thread helps others; if only to avoid auto sparks at least