Guest Graham Posted June 4, 2003 Twice now I have notice by battery light come on, but very dim and both times it has gone out, I've check the battery and attenuator connections with no success. About half an hour after this last happened my radio started to play up with poor quality sound, so I turn it off, and then try to turn it on but it wouldn't work. I stop the car and try it again, after a minute or two I think sod it I'll do this at home. I go to drive off and the dash lights, main lights have gone dim and the engine has no power. So I drive home carefully. About two roads from home and the engine cuts out. Try starting it and all I can hear is the relays going. Leave it five minutes and the engine starts to turn, got a mate to come out with a set of jump leads and the car started fine. Tried it when I got home and the engine started no problems. Anyone have any ideas what this could be? I'm thinking alternator, as before it happened I had the lights, radio etc on and that the battery seemed to hold it charge/ regain some power while it was unloaded. I'm pretty sure the alternator is the original one. If its not the alternator I can't think what it would be, as the only other thing that could put that much strain on the electrical system would be the starter motor, and I think I would have noticed that. Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob_the_Sparky 9 Posted June 5, 2003 Sounds like alternator - have you checked the battery voltage with the engine running? Should be 14.4V if its much less then the alternator isn't charging. Rob P.S. battery voltage should be around 12V with engine off if fully charged, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Graham Posted June 5, 2003 (edited) Just checked it and the voltage increases by about 2V with the engine running, so the altenator seems to be working at the moment, even with everything on (lights, fan, rear screen and wipers) the voltage is still slightly above what it is with the engine off. I'm still going to change it as I'm 99% sure thats the problem and as I can not think what else it could be. Cheers for the help. Edited June 5, 2003 by Graham Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob_the_Sparky 9 Posted June 5, 2003 Thats odd - no chance that it was just belt slip or a loose cable? That could stop the alternator charging. Apart from that I can't think of anything other than alternator that would cause it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Graham Posted June 5, 2003 The belt was alright, and the cable was well and truly on. I got one from halfords for £50, the local motor factors wanted £95. The only thing I can think of is that the alternator has worn to the point where the tolerances are too big. So when it gets hot, from the engine, the bushes are not in contact with the slip rings and it doesn't charge. Well I'm pretty sure it was the original one, so 110K miles and about 11 years probably is not that bad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pugnut 9 1 Cars Posted June 5, 2003 before rushing out and spending big bucks i would check all earth leads from the battery to the car body and from the battery to the engine, also the thick wires coming from the alternator to the starter then onto the battery . loose or corroded wires are very common on old pugs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zoldalma 1 Posted June 9, 2003 I'vee had similar experiences with mine. My old alternator did this trick on me for a few times, not charging for a few hours. I could not find an apparent reason behind it. I got another one from a scrapyard, that lasted for some months - then it died straight and unquestionably. So now I'm back with the old one, always keeping an eye on the battery light... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ellisg Posted June 9, 2003 Mine did that, red battery light would come on occasionally very dim, then go out, no probs. It was slip ring gone inside alternator, was still working but voltage was higher than battery but not fully charging, new alternator fixed it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
