Odd bettery light problem

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

My battery light is taunting me. I can be driving along and all of a sudden my battery light will come on and my rev counter will 'under read' and if i select neuteral and start coating it will drop to 0. It will do this for a couple of minutes then return to normal.

Also it seems to happen more so when im sitting in traffic. Any ideas? I'm thinking its a slipping belt (either that or me alts on its way out?) as when Im sitting in traffic and it happens the engine note changes ever so slightly. Its a 1.9 TD in case anyones wondering.

Cheers

Level 6 User Joined: 20 Jun 2004 Posts: 155

If it was the alternator that was duff, then that wouldn't affect the tachometer would it?

Site Subscriber Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 589

When i had my ph2 1916v the alternator went as i was driving and over a 3mile distance the speedo and rev counter started to drop and the cassette (remember them Laughing

) i was listening to got slower and slower till eventually the car died Sad

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

on the TD the rev courter is driven off the alternator not the coil. Just noticed ont he way home the revs dont underead they just drop to 0 on the dial when i idle. Also, the lights contasntly vary in brightness.

Site Subscriber Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 350

remember when my alternator went, huw? oh what an evening that turned out to be!! alt gave up the ghost at about 9pm...didnt get home til about 8am the morning after! Laughing

all good fun tho

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Right, bit of an update. Went down to me m8s (willam) lights were fluctuating so much the guy in front thought i was flashing him. Battery light flickered on and off at one point constantly before going off completley, then coming back on almost randomly.

We tested the alternator using a little testing device and it showed the alternator to be putting out 14v. Nothing wrong there?

On the way back was a clear run, everything seemed good up untill I came to the traffic lights. Sitting at idle, headlights started to fluctuate (but not battery light) at the same time my amp cut out and came back on (this has been happening a fair bit recently, think it might be connected somehow?).

I am now at a loss, car electrics arent me strong point and I need the car for the weekend. Any help much appreciated.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

alts fecked matey.

When I first got the chamade same thing, no battery light unless high revs though. But at idle the fuel pump and lights and everything uses to pulse, diodes in the alt gone.

It charged fine except high revs, but cos the diodes had gone it was pumping out AC instead of DC!

Thats yer prob.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Seems i've got the opposite of you thos chris, mine seems fine at higher revs, just the light seems to come on at lower revs. Or was that what you were saying?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

nah my light came on at higher revs, but my brushes had plenty of life in them, yours probably don't especially if its a high miler. My alt thats on it the now had light probs before I stuck the 1.4's brush box on it.

Anyway its buggered get another one.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Arse. Anyone got a spare? Locally their about 80 quid

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Just done 700+ miles this weekend and not a peep from the alternator. Seems to be only when the headlights are on, which is only when i've noticed it. So, its a load issue? Im guessing this still indicates a dud alternator?

Level 6 User Joined: 20 Jun 2004 Posts: 155

Well so long as the alt belt tension is right, and everything that it drives is turning smoothly, including any tensioners etc (I don't know what is driven from the alternator belt on the diesels), then alternator would be the obvious choice.

Out of interest, is the diesel's tacho driven direct from the alternators electrical output, or is it mechanically driven?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

leccy driven.

yes its buggered, During my miss shift (see gen chat) I now have a flicker for the alt again.

The brushes have probably worn to nearly nothing especially if the mileage is high.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Is it possible to replace the bushes, or is it not worth it>?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

well thats what I did.

Try sourcing new ones, I got mine from a spare 1.4 alt but the things buggered so I will need to get a new one.

if you can find a source of brushes then let me know!

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

From the sounds of it brushes arent widley available.., but i'll ask around

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

the brushes don't just come as brushes its the whole brush box that bolts to the back of the alt.

If it was jus the brushes and possible to just swap them I would smash open an old hairdryer or something!