Help!! V8S ignition light dilemma

[seb400]

Just got in from work, turned the engine off and the red battery light on the dash came on. It goes out again once the immobiliser is disarmed, but comes on again when the engine is turn off. The car starts and runs fine, seems to be charging okay too. Never seen that before, it's always come on before when the battery stops charging!
'Smartly' disconnected the battery as I need the car tomorrow morning as I'm going on holiday and didn't want to drain the battery - then stupidly shut the boot, doh sh*t. I do know the access method. Would anyone know why the battery light is staying on after turning off the car?

Steve

[tubbystu]

Normally sign of dead / dying alternator.......... sorry.

Stuart

[pies]

Only thing i can think of is the diode pack in the alternator,but im probably talking bollix

[tubbystu]

pies said:

Only thing i can think of is the diode pack in the alternator,but im probably talking bollix

Pies - you speak the truth, that's the kiddie if its not the entire alternator.

Austec charged me £175 all in for new alternator and labour when mine went tits up this time last year. All done sameday too.

[seb400]

Thanks guys, but would that explain why the light stays on when the ignition/engine is off and keys are out?

Steve

[greenv8s]

I would go with the alternator diode pack theory. Incidentally, the easiest way to open the boot is to briefly connect the main power output terminal on the back of the alternator to an external 12v supply. This can be done very quickly using e.g. a pair of jump leads clipping the -ve lead to the top of the plenum and touching the +ve to the alternator +ve terminal (the one with the big brown wire connected to it), with the ignition on and the release button held down.

As always with jump leads you need to be *very* careful not to short the two jump leads together at any point or it will go 'bang'.

>> Edited by greenv8s on Monday 6th February 17:44

[tubbystu]

seb400 said:

Thanks guys, but would that explain why the light stays on when the ignition/engine is off and keys are out? Steve

[seb400]

Cheers guys, spot on.
Breakdown man has been round - "Alternator's knackered, you'll have to get a new one tomorrow". Which would have only been inconvenient, had I not been going on holiday tomorrow morning!

Steve