Battery Issues

[pa402 0]

Last night I realised that my car (1.9 gti) had a lack of electrical power. Once a returned home the car wouldnt start. Once I had jumped it I tested the battery and that was charging at 14v and my electrics were again working at full power.

 

During the week I have had the battery disconnected to fit some spots to it, but these are not yet fully connected. Also my alternator was new in the summer and since that was fitted the battery light on my dash has not worked.

 

Anyone have any ideas.

[mbayley77 0]

Well if your getting 14V to your battery then your alternator is working correctly so I doubt that is your problem. My thoughts would be a naff battery. Does it have service holes on top so you can top the level of water up on it? if so are they on the correct levels.

 

Just out of curiosity you say your battery light doesnt work? do you mean it doesnt come on when the ignition is turned on or stays on all the time when the engine is running?

[pa402 0]

The battery light just doesnt come on at all any more and I havent got round to checking wiring/bulb. Further testing shows that the battery charges at 11v when I start the car but if I rev it to over 3000 then it charges at 14.5v at which it stays. Is this normal?

[jackherer 543]

The battery light wire isn't connected to your alternator anymore. With this unplugged the alternator wont start charging until its revved to approx. 3k and you'll never see the battery light come on. Look for a single female spade connector on a thin wire in the region of your alternator and plug this into the only spade connector on the alternator itself.

 

If that wire is already connected to the alternator unplug it and ground it with the ignition on and check the battery light comes on, if it doesnt the next place to check is the brown multiplug above the gearbox, you'll find it by following the wire from the alternator back under the inlet manifold towards the gearbox.