It's just died........again!!

freck · Post by **freck** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:55 am

Oh no! The bloody thing's just died again this morning, on my way to work!

As I was driving along, the dash lights started dimming and the radio died. Then, the SRS and ABS lights started going on and off, so I turned off the headlights, radio, fan etc hoping that I could at least make it to work, but it died at the next junction and I had to push it to the side of the road and abandon it!

I've an idea that the battery has probably totally discharged but can't work out why the charge light hasn't come on if the alternator has had it. I'm guessing the battery should be OK cos it's only a few months old

Anyone got any ideas? Or has a similar thing happened to anyone else?
I really need to get this sorted or the damn thing will have to go!!

telegraphroad · Post by **telegraphroad** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:34 pm

a few things can happen,

1 check your alternator,
a thick wire is for charging
the thin red one (connected to voltaregualtor is for the alarm)

I had the similair problems, the battery didn't charge becasue the powercable form the alternator was broken.

2- check with a volt-metre if your car is charging at the alternator and at the battery

if the alternator doesn't charge (14,4V) it might be your alternator brushes

good luck

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 1:52 pm

when my MEGA FUSE blew the dash light came on but really really dim!!

it's 80amp fuse above the fan in a L shaped black cover.

freck · Post by **freck** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 2:27 pm

Thanks guys.
I think I've sorted it now - the connections on the alternator were looking a little corroded so i've cleaned them up and greased them.
I checked the voltage at tick over and was getting about 14.2V so I guess its not too bad now. I'm still going to strip the alternator and fit some new brushes when I get a chance though just to be on the safe side

SanPhire · Post by **SanPhire** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:56 am

Yeah - the altenator can fail and not flash up charge warning lights for a long time.

(I know - I'm going to lay claim to the greatest number of altenators changed in the shortest period of 480 ownership - 3 in one year... I really should stop getting them cheap of scrap-yards...)

I'm not sure why this is, but quite often if the altenator has stopped charing the battery - lights dim, ABS/SRS starts to run out of juice and flashes up, then the fuel pump/ECU dies. Without the auxillary displays (Battery voltage) this is hard to spot happening - although you may notice the battery light start to glow as voltage drops under around 11v.

This altenator died by flashing the warning lights at me though... Whats all that about then?

Change the bushes and save the whirling magnets of doom. Also check the regulator by measuring the voltage as you change engine speed (shouldn't ever jump up past about 14.5...14.6V if the regulator is doing it's thing. Careful as above 16V can fry the computers.

Good luck

bbf · Post by **bbf** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:35 pm

when my charging cable junction at battery snaped, my car run on less than 8 volts (NO inclination on V meter!!). radio died, lights where like candels, popups didn't work any more, but the car still run, wery shitty, had to pump up the pedal to stay on rpm. i did about 10 kilometers in that state, it died 100m from my home.. so i walked home for a spare battery.

maybe its only a regulator has died on you. sometimes it dies that way, the accu light is stil ok but it gives no charge.