Evening All, Getting The Battery Light Coming On And Off On My Vvc 160

[Martin R]

Impossible to say. It may run ok like that for years it may pack in tomorrow. At least you know the indicator light works correctly. I once made it back from Wales with no Alternator on a spare battery from the AA. In a Fiesta i might add.

[olliecast]

thanks andy, ill get an alternator sourced and on straight away!

[jimbo07g41]

The fact that the battery is showing 12.2 would concern me, The duff alternator might slowly start killing batteries, A great deal of power is used to start the car and then would take sometime to recharge after a starting cycle.

 

Did you do a continuity test on the main wiring to and from the Alternator?

[olliecast]

Not done that yet Jim. Reason being the leads on my multimeter don't seem long enough to get one on the battery terminal and one on the alternator nut.

Or am I missing something in my technique?

[olliecast]

also. when the car was switched off the battery voltage gradually started falling again. Is this just the alternator charge bleeeding off?

 

Cheers,

ollie

[jimbo07g41]

Have a look at this might help. How old is the battery, have you had it on a conditioner? I have a conditoner you can borrow but I do supsect you have fried something with the short you described.

 

 

http://assets.fluke.com/appnotes/automotive/beatbook.pdf

[olliecast]

the battery is pretty old and does drain very quickly if anything is left on.

I`ve just been out to the car and the voltage is measuring 12.52v.

 

i`ll get checking at the weekend with what you link too thanks jim

 

in terms of the continuity check, do you mean checking as per this:

http://easyautodiagnostics.com/alternator_tests/alternator_diagnostic_tests_2.php

 

if so, would you do by using really long multimeter leads?

 

oh, and dont fancy selling that spare alternator do you?

[Martin R]

It does not matter how long the leads are as long as you dont go mad. Touch the long leads together first and get a reading for the leads. Deduct this after off the final test resistance.

[jimbo07g41]

Just make the cable longer as Martyn suggests. The battery is in the front in the S1 so it is going to be long.

 

I will have a look for my spare Alternator tonight and message you.

[olliecast]

Alternator changed and all is well!! Thanks for the help guys. The old one was knackered