Technical Battery Warning Light glowing

[palicus]

Hi all,

Got in the car yesterday am and found to my dismay that the battery warning light was glowing dimly.

Car is a 1994 1.4ie with power steering on 88k miles.

Thought I'd take a chance on it just to the rail station and back in the evening.

With no extra loads like lights, wipers etc the light goes off when the revs pick up and then returns on tickover.

However as soon as the lights are on it will glow dimly whatever the revs.

Still made it home though with lights, wipers and demisters on too. Phew! But I am chancing it again today and I don't know how much longer I'll be lucky.

I guess the alternator is on the way out as all the connections/belt seem tight - have been quoted £71 for a recon unit which seems fair.

I see from other threads that people have had similar probs and run their cars for a good while without failure, so am tempted to see how long I last... any thoughts?

Does anyone have any advice on whether the problem could be anything other than imminent alternator failure, and on the best way to tackle replacement - I've read on another thread that its a pig of a job as it won't drop out the bottom or out the side through the wheel arch and I could barely see it from the top!

My manual helpfully suggests nothing else needs to be shifted first its just a matter of removing the bolts and the belt and replacing the unit.

Any advice gratefully received.

Cheers in advance,

Palicus

 

[Hellcat]

How old is the battery? Worth doing a voltage check to make sure the altenator is at fault.

Then clean up the contacts on the back of the altenator, especially the little thin wire which is 'battery warning light' lead.

 

[Tony M]

yeah it's not a battery meter it's more to show the charging system is working... common problem the alternator failing... but an easy one to fix as long as you are great in really small spaces.

 

[T14086]

sounds like warning light diode,aslong as its charging ok (and battery not draining) i'd leave it.

 

[pycoed]

Hi all,

Got in the car yesterday am and found to my dismay that the battery warning light was glowing dimly.



Palicus

That'll be the brushes on the regulator pack on the alternator. On the TD versions it's awkward to get at at the back of the engine, but can be replaced without removing the alty. Dunno where it is on the 1.4
If you have brushes of a suitable size you can solder new ones onto the regulator pack, but if you have to get the pack it's cheap (about £15) & only two 8mm bolts to remove/replace once you've got the alty connections off & the plastic cover. DO remove the battery earth lead first.

 

[ronxray]

Had the same problem for 5 years.
Do the head lights brighten when you rev engine from tick over, if so don't worry. Had my Tipo in Fiat garage last year for new lambda sensor, they told me not to worry.

 

[Hellcat]

I replaced the diode/bush pack on a TD alternator. Didn't require any soldering. Would think it's similar but not the same on a 1.4

 

[palicus]

Thanks for all your replies - very helpful indeed.
I picked up a multimeter and consistently found the battery to be fully charged and the alty kicking out plenty of amps - so have been living with it without a problem. The lights do brighten when rev from tickover - so guess its either the warning light cable earthing somewhere (the lamp has gone out a few times when traversing bumpy ground), or the warning light diode as per your suggestions. Next time there's a 1.4 in my scrappy I'll examine the diode pack on it to see how simple it is to replace, as soldering is not for me - until then I'll leave well alone!

Cheers all, Palicus