The battery warning light has been permanently on since yesterday afternoon, but the car is starting first time etc. Obviously isn't flat battery, any ideas?

Hi,
If the red light is on your car is not charging the battery, check the fan belt to see if its tight (though they usually squeal if they are loose). Could be a wiring fault or maybe the alternator itself. Does the red light go out when you take the key out? Some of the motor factor places offer a free alternator check so might help to find the problem.......

Thanks Froggie: took the cinq to the garage cos it was making such a racket and apparently the bearings are shot in the alternator, thus the battery is not being charged properly. Light has gone out for the moment. What will happen if the alternator goes altogether?

YOU WILL STOP! lol basically the battery will stop charging and you will not get very far before the battery goes flat.
get it replaced/overhauled ASAP

Hope it gets me to London and back tomorrow then. Do you know if I need a v or wide belt alternator (it's clear I have no idea what I am talking about - just quoting the garage!!)? Rang up to get another alternator but they need to know which sort I have.

This is the difference between "V" and flat belts you should be able to see this easily by looking at your fan belt.....


Flat belt "V" belt

Jetsfan5 said:

Hope it gets me to London and back tomorrow then. Do you know if I need a v or wide belt alternator (it's clear I have no idea what I am talking about - just quoting the garage!!)? Rang up to get another alternator but they need to know which sort I have.

Click to expand...

The Cinq has a flat belt, and I wouldn't drive far knowing that at anytime your battery could become low enough in juice that it can't provide a spark to the plugs and therefore the car will stop. This is fairly gradual and you will feel the car getting sluggish, the lights on the dash dimming etc

You can conserve the power be not driving hard as you then produce less revs therefore less sparks.

An alternator is about £90 exchange for a Cinq from Halfords or cheaper elsewhere but it all depends on how quick you want it and what’s the most convenient.

If you do a search I did a post ages ago about changing one as its not hard just a little time consuming.

Aaron.

Well my 2p's worth, erm you can get your Alternator reconned while you wait at many Lucas places, around £45 and new ones if yours is total shagged are £78.

Belt is £4.50 from Halfrauds.

Liam