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General => The garage => Topic started by: mookie on 19 April 2007, 23:02

Title: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: mookie on 19 April 2007, 23:02
First of all, long time no see!  :laugh:

Second up, I'm guessing the universal reply will be "Buggered alternator", but I just want to be sure. Basically the battery light stays on after starting the car. It's not quite solid, there's a barely noticable flicker to it, but it remains on regardless of the length of journey. I've got no problems getting the car to start, and the battery is only about a year old, so I'm guessing the battery is OK and it's most probably a bummed alternator.

Agree or disagree?
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: gibby on 20 April 2007, 10:05
Agreed. Usually the battery light staying on means that you're alternator is not charging up. I'm guessing that you'll find this out very soon as your battery will eventually be flat. If it's not that then I don't know.
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: Len on 20 April 2007, 11:20
Agreed. But amazed its been going on for 3 days!
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: gillo_grumlin on 20 April 2007, 12:21
Replace the voltage regulator pack, it sound like the bushes on it are worn to point of just making contact hence the faint/flicking battery light.
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: boneybradley on 20 April 2007, 12:24
Go to your local motor shop...i know round here they give a free alty test and that should show what's going on
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: Organisys on 20 April 2007, 12:31
Buggered alternator  :laugh:

but also check earth straps.
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: [han] on 20 April 2007, 15:02
i drove about for a week in my driver with the light on (i didnt realise it was on, cos it was just kinda on) so ignored it until one day the car just wouldnt start at all...
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: mookie on 20 April 2007, 17:48
Yup went down the local garage and the fella tested it and sure enough, it's knackered  :cry:

Do you think I can make it til Tuesday without flattening the battery?
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: wickedonemk2 on 20 April 2007, 21:19
Replace the voltage regulator pack, it sound like the bushes on it are worn to point of just making contact hence the faint/flicking battery light.

The advice given above if noted will save you time money and hassle ..... replace the voltage regulator (takes no more than 5 mins and you dont have to remove the alty either ,you wont have any more lights (but you will need to charge the battery up again....Bosch,lucas etc gsf or euro could have stock not sure

give em a ring  :wink:

John
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: boneybradley on 21 April 2007, 09:29
mookie it say's your just outside leeds....What motor you got as i have a spare alty for a mk3 hanging about (getting in the way)..it has being fully tested and is a 70amp version..
If you are running the car till tuesday I would charge the battery fully and use as little electric's as possible and hope for the best :undecided:
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: [han] on 21 April 2007, 13:25
think he's mk2!
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: mookie on 21 April 2007, 22:29
Yeah Mk2 GTi. Thanks for the offer though.

You sure about it maybe being the voltage regulator? The light is on continuously with a very faint flicker - I noticed when I revved it hard the light goes out sometimes (usually over 4500rpm ish). I've already booked it in for Tuesday to get the alternator swapped  :huh: Hmmm. If only I could get this fix tried before then... gadzooks.
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: Ktuludays on 26 April 2007, 09:50
i would try the volt reg first. only £15 and it does sound like the bushes are just making contact
Title: Re: Battery Light On For Three Days
Post by: monzablue16v on 26 April 2007, 20:39
Could also be that your blue wire has come off the alty, rusted away, shorted somewhere. Revving the car will make the connection a bit better possibly worth a check for free you can test the alternator with a multimeter, put it on an earth and onto the postive with the engine of should be about 12v then get someone to start the car it should go up to around 14 volts. Revving the engine shouldn't make the alternator kick out much more voltage also check the alternator belt is tight :)