Numpty battery question...R500

[gra001]

Thought I`d go for a blat this crisp day. So, master switch on, turn the key and just continuously flashing alarm LED and clicking. Given the freezing weather guessed battery was flat so hooked up the charger, gave it a couple of minutes and all OK. Took the charger off whilst waiting for oil temperature to rise and after 10 mins or so engine cuts out and couldn`t restart. Hooked up the charger again and it started and continued to run with charger still hooked up. "charging" still showing on charger so does that mean that there was not enough juice in the battery to keep it running??

[gra001]

ewenm said:

Is your alternator working?

Mmmmmmmm, no idea. Everything was good before the cold weather. Just been and taken charger off. "charging" light now out and just "maintaining".

[gra001]

sjwb said:

Drop a volt meter across the battery and if (no load) it is below 12v it is discharged. With the engine running (2000 rev/min ish) voltage should be between 13.5 to 14.2 or thereabouts.
In other words if the off to on condition changes similat to the above, your alternator is working. Note I did not say, or mean to imply, correctly.

Thanks Ewen and Steve. No meter so I`ll get it running again and see how it goes. If it dies I`ll invest in the meter and check.

Just a thought....car has done about 3500 miles. How long should an alternator last???

Edited by gra001 on Thursday 20th December 16:20

[gra001]

Thanks guys.

[gra001]

Just realised the "Stack" dash shows battery level. Advice given above for meter reading...I`m assuming the stack should read the same as those figures with engine off and then running? Can someone confirm?.....thanks