Technical Help! Red battery warning light

[dcmo]

Hi all,

I've got an S reg Marea Weekend 1.9 TD100 ... was stuck in traffic last week when a red battery-shaped warning light flickered on/off a few times, but stopped once I got out of the jam and speeded up. To be honest I forgot about it until today when the same warning light came on again while driving slowly in traffic again. It flickered for a few mins then off for a while, on when low revs, but then came on permanently for the last mile or so of journey.

Am I going to be able to drive to work tomorrow? Is it likely to be a new battery needed or something more sinister/expensive? Thing is, it's booked in for MOT a week on Wednesday! Other than the flickering light, all sounds/feels ok ... any thoughts appreciated..

dcmo

 

[custard]

most likely is the alternator. 1st thing is to check the belt is tentioned as sitting in traffic at low revs would show up a loose belt not giving it the revolutions needed to charge at low revs

also check the battery connections are tight,obvious i know but it can happen that one is loose

 

[Jetsfan5]

My cinq had a similar prob last week. The battery light flickered for a day then came on permanently - at first I thought I would need to get a new battery - but the light was followed by a metal on metal sound and the next day the car died. It was the alternator, the bearings were shot and therefore had not been charging the battery up.

Sourced another alternator, jump started the car today and had the new alternator put it by the local garage - car good as new now!!!

Hope you get it sorted - whatever it turns out to be!!

 

[dcmo]

Cheers - I'm off outside to check the battery connections just in case... this is my first diesel car so although I did do some work on other cars I haven't really done much on this one

 

[custard]

no real difference omn the charging system except it has a heavier battery and higher output alternator usually

 

[viper1253]

battery light indicates alternator fault it sounds light it is starting to seize get it fixed asap as it will soon stop charging the battery and if you use all the charge in the battery you could knacker that as well.

theres an alternator currently on ebay 99p

 

[dcmo]

Hi,

Just to finish the story... the morning after I posted, the car seemed ok again so I set off for work .... and only just got there with clearly an utterly exhausted battery (it was foggy so I had to use lights). AA carted the car off the garage for a new alternator which proved a real pig to replace they tell me. Ho hum. Well thats it sorted - but more problems now ... probably deserved a fresh thread though!

cheers for the help guys,

dcmo

 

[T14086]

Yep alternators bit awkward on these cars,anyway sorted now

 

[polecat]

Glad you got sorted.

 

[caseking]

hi have opposite problem my battery light wont come on when i turn ignition on. i have just tryed 2 recon alternaters this week have tested earth lead to engine also pos to alterntor tested small wire from alt to battey light{light comes on when earthed out} original alt bearings blown need help:bang: car is a punto1.1 55

 

[T14086]

car is a punto1.1 55

better posting in punto technical section then