Electrical Gremilins!

[timmsy19 3]

Hi all

 

Having a bit of a mare at the moment

 

Ever since i had my new engine put in and the engine bay painted im having some electrical faults

 

At first i thought it could be the alternator but checked it the other day with a full load (everything i could think of on)

 

12v showing when engine off and its around 13.8ish when on idle so its charging (just)

 

issues are:

 

1. Flickery drivers side headlight when switched to high beam

2. Battery warning light on faintly all the time (gets brighter if i have the HU and headlights on at same time)

3. HU cuts out every so often then switches back on

 

The thing is the battery hasnt gone dead yet and its been like it since before christmas. The car starts first time everytime.

 

Ive checked the earth points for the headlights and also checked the alternator. Battery is almost new. Im also running a HID setup but never had this issue before the new engine went in

 

Question is could it be another earth point or is the brown multiplug?

 

Thanks

Graham

[steve@cornwall 100]

Had this prob on mine - cured by replacing the battery (the old one ran a 1.0l seat fine for 12 months) does the HU cut out if you crank it up without the engine running?

[GLPoomobile 958]

Double check your earths, particularly the one on the passenger side inner wing/strut. If the engine bay has been painted, perhaps you are not getting a proper earth on the wing and maybe you need to sand it back to bare metal where it connects.

 

Also check you've got a really good connection on the alternator, both the +VE cable and the excitor wire.

[timmsy19 3]

Cheers Steve, I've checked the passenger side earth and looks like it did get painted so scraped it back and it's hopefully sortted the issue

[timmsy19 3]

right ive done the earth point and all is good.

 

no flicky lights and no cuttign out of the HU.

 

been running a week now and its not died yet so its ok.

 

However!......the battery light is still on dim and brightons when using the indicators!

 

any ideas?

[grandos 16]

Sounds like your alternator is on the way out if the light gets brighter the more electrical load you place on the unit.

[timmsy19 3]

tested it last week before i done the earth and it was at 13.7 so wasnt doing to bad.

 

i'll check it again i think as i have a feeling it might be the alternator. i got a spare at the ready anyway

[miamichris 9]

Alternator should kick out 14.4V roughly, my battery light was on faintly for ages and had the same symptoms with dimming lights etc. for a while, finally picked up an alternator from the scrappy's and fitted it yesterday, all is well, battery light is gone and lights are fine.

 

So I think you need to swap that alternator mate.

[timmsy19 3]

right i'll get that spare alternator on next weekend then

 

thanks

Edited January 24, 2010 by timmsy19