Technical losing power but no battery light on

greg72 · Nov 20, 2008

hi all,

whilst doing my 13 mile (mainly dual carriageway) drive home last night, my 98 cinq 899 sx started to lose electric power. The lights got dimmer and dimmer and by the time i got home my headlights were as good as sidelights!!!

i had no battery warning light come on and this does work as it comes on when you start the car. needless to say, car is pretty much dead today.

any ideas??

thanks,
Greg

rallycinq · Nov 20, 2008

Get the car started, and check the output from the alternator, should be around 13.8V.

Cheers

PD

Eklipze3k · Nov 20, 2008

Do you have anything else drawing power ie. amplifiers, sat nav, etc?

greg72 · Nov 20, 2008

there is nothing in the car that wasnt standard. i dont get why i had no battery light come on??

rallycinq · Nov 20, 2008

Faulty alternator brushes, worn bearings. Allows the light to come on before starting, but once driving the alternator is givng only 12V, enough to put the light out, but not top up the battery.

Cheers

PD

greg72 · Nov 21, 2008

will be getting output on alternator checked tomorrow morning.

If i have to remove it, is it just the two 17mm bolts that need removing through the wheel arch??

spedo · Nov 21, 2008

Could be your battery has given up, the electrical resources may be too much for the battery if it is not holding its charge. i.e one of the cells has gone down. A quick alternator (already mentioned) and a battery charge test will proberly nail the problem down for you. Also make sure your earth is good and tight.

greg72 · Nov 22, 2008

had voltage checked by my mechanic mate, and at idle it was good but as soon as rpm went up voltage went down.

he reckons slipping aux belt???

gonna change it tomoro anyway, hopefully will sort it.

rallycinq · Nov 22, 2008

I'd go bearing failure, prepare yourself for the worst.

Cheers

PD

fingers99 · Nov 22, 2008

As above. Usually the belt will slip (horrible screetching noise) when the engine is cold.

There may well be an alternator/starter motor specialist near you who can rebuild what you have for the price of one from a scrappy, but there are lots in scrappies.

greg72 · Nov 22, 2008

i take it bearing failure is alternator bearing?? so new alternator??

greg

rallycinq · Nov 22, 2008

greg72 said:
i take it bearing failure is alternator bearing?? so new alternator??

greg

Yup, or rebuilt if your local autospark will do it.

Cheers

PD

ScottieCinq · Nov 24, 2008

Sorry to jump in on this thread.

I've just been picked up by the rAC with the same problem, he reckons the alternator has gone, pushing out just over 11. My question is this: how much will it cost to sort, wondering if it may be worth it?

I have a 99 sei Abarth sporting with 78k on the clock, I've also noticed that water is being used, but can't see a leak? We've had no heating for ages, the RAC guy said the leak could be to do with this and may be the exchangers?

Is it time for my sei to go to the breakers? :-(

greg72 · Nov 25, 2008

hey scottie,

you are just up the road in swindon!!!

your car sounds identical to mine lol i am pretty sure my head gasket has gone but car drives sound apart from new electrical fault.

getting new alternator and belt fitted wednesday now, should see me through for a couple of weeks till i get new car, then i am gonna have a go at head gasket myself so i can get the little car going again for travelling to work.

ScottieCinq · Nov 25, 2008

cheers Greg, how much is the alernator costing please?

rallycinq · Nov 25, 2008

ScottieCinq said:
Sorry to jump in on this thread.

I've just been picked up by the rAC with the same problem, he reckons the alternator has gone, pushing out just over 11. My question is this: how much will it cost to sort, wondering if it may be worth it?

I have a 99 sei Abarth sporting with 78k on the clock, I've also noticed that water is being used, but can't see a leak? We've had no heating for ages, the RAC guy said the leak could be to do with this and may be the exchangers?

Is it time for my sei to go to the breakers? :-(

It worries me that you continue to drive without proper cooling. I have no idea what 'exchangers' are unless you are driving an aircooled version.

Actually, I suppose without water in it it is effectively air cooled, but its not supposed to be.

Get it sorted.

Cheers

PD

greg72 · Nov 25, 2008

alternator was 25 quid from scrappy.

ScottieCinq · Nov 25, 2008

thanks. I'm not driving it without water, it's always got some a full load, just after 30 odd miles it uses some.

cheers Greg

rallycinq · Nov 25, 2008

ScottieCinq said:
thanks. I'm not driving it without water, it's always got some a full load, just after 30 odd miles it uses some.

cheers Greg

Bleeding it each time?

Cheers

PD

greg72 · Nov 27, 2008

this is getting stranger by the day!!!

fitted alternator and belt and all was good.... then my battery light came on, and full glow. the car still drives perfect and i have full electrics again.

even when driving at night i have all lights, full beam etc etc but now have a battery warning light????

going to check in the morning for loose connections but any other ideas???

greg

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