For f*cks sake, my Brava 1.4 -98 has been in for repairs 3 times now since I bough it less than a month ago. Since the garage can't seem to fix the prob I thought I'd ask here.

Problem is the battery light comes on. When I bought the car the charger (if that's what it's called, the thing that charges the battery) was shot -> got it replaced. Whopee. About a week later, the battery light comes on while I'm driving, in a while the airbag light goes on as well. While driving to the garage, the battery light went out a few times, came on again for instance when motorbreaking (if I remember correctly).. Every time the battery light came on all lights (interior and outside) went very bright.

Ok, it was at the garage for two weeks (sheesh..), got it back and they told me they'd put it through some diagnostics, reset something or other. I thought everything was fine now, but a few days later when accelerating the battery light came on again for an instance (3rd gear, relatively high revs), but went out right away. Now, when my gf was out with the car, she said there was a burnt smell when she started the car. A few minutes of driving, and now the freaking battery light is on again. I guess I'll have to take it in for a 4th time, but I'm running out of patience with the garage and thought perhaps they need some pointers...

Something that might or might not be related to this is I put in new Philips Vision Plus bulbs the other day, both burned out in less than 24h. Got a new set, they're working fine (so far....)

I'd appreciate any ideas on what could be causing the battery light prob..

Hi Markus when the alternator was replaced with a new one / recon or seconed-hand?
If the charging light is coming on to me it looks like the voltage regulator in the rear of the altrenator is on its way out plus You say the lights got very bright ? this points to the regulator over charging and red light on not charging
Is your battery good holding a charge or going flat?

Trev

ps is the fan belt ok not to loose

persistent problem

Trev, when they fitted it they said the alternator was brand new. They also put in a new battery, or at least a relatively new used one I think.

Is the voltage regulator separate from the charger, and if it is, is it an expensive thing to have replaced? I don't know much about what's under the bonnet, but some friends have suspected the regulator as well.

Interesting though that I just went driving with the car, no charging lite came on, although both front bulbs (Vision Plus) had gone out again - could that be a symptom of a broken regulator? I now put in the same bulbs that were in the car when I bought it, we'll see..

About the fan belt, I suppose it's fine, it's supposed to squeal if it's loose, right? (I said I'm not that good at cars...

Thanks for your help!

Re: persistent problem

If the fan belt is squeeling, then its REALLY loose
Check the tension on your fan belt. With strong fingers, you should be able to push / deflect the centre of the belt 0.5".

Re:Reersistent problem

Markus the voltage regulator is part of the alternator

Re: Re:Reersistent problem

borrow a test meter from someone and check the voltage at the battery with the engine running. it should indicate about 13.8 volts.
rev the engine and see what happens to the voltage, as far as i know, it shouldn't go above this figure.
if it does, then your regulator is definately shot

Re: Re: Re:Reersistent problem

Ok, thanks for the tips, I think my friend has a voltage meter, I'll check with him. Funny if the regulator is shot, though, as the alternator was suppoosed to be a new one..

Christ... Lights are on again and there's a burnt smell, also I could almost swear the power steering got heavier... Car's at the garage for the fourth time now, the manager promised to fix it for good this time. And he's putting in a new third brake light strip for me and also fixing/replacing the plastic tray beneath the engine, tray was hanging loose from one of its fittings..

I'm not even pissed off anymore. More amused & interested in seeing how long this will go on.. Probably till I buy a Toyota..

persistent problem - solved for now

Right. Got the car back, they told me the alternator was broken or not suited for the Brava, so they put in a new one. Or well, who knows what they put in, I wasn't there.

We'll see from now on. At least I got a new third brakelight strip for the boot and the plastic tray under the engine re-fitted. Whopee. And a pair of Osram Silverstars.

On to fix the metallic rattle somewhere from the boot....

Re: persistent problem - solved for now

"Metalic rattle from the boot somewhere" could be rear seat catch. Common problem.

Mark.

Re: Re: persistent problem - solved for now

The one TRUE design fault

Sounds like they shafted you with a shot alternator. The burning smell was probably the belt.

Fiat garage or some back street chop shop?

persistent

Sabre: Hmm I've read this somewhere, folded the seats down, put them up again, tried to yank them here & there, but they seem ok... The rattle is more like... something loose rattling around in a hollow space, surrounded by metal and / or hard plastic. Drives me insane. It's not the back shelf, doesn't seem to be the folding mat in the boot, no similar rattle when I lift/lower the boot... Hmmph. But exactly what do I need to do, wrap some tape around the metallic thingy that's not attached to the seat and looks sort of like a wicket in crickeT?

Tom: Semi-chop-shop, employed by the place (Toyota) where I bought the Brava. Seemed decent, though, although they said they'd had problems finding the correct alternator for the car... Btw, why would there be a burnt smell from the belt if the alternator was shot?

Re: persistent

If the belt is slipping or the windings are overheating. I'd guess the latter.