Red Battery Light on in Nissan Micra S

[emu88]

Hi. Went on holiday for 2 weeks and after getting back the car started first time but the red battery light was on constantly. Been like this for 2 days so far but has worked fine each time I started it. The alternator belt doesn't seem loose and no squealing I think. Any advice?

Also I have been recommended Leeman road Garage in York but it seems they specialise in exhausts. Can anyone else vouch for them as reliable and honest??

[orangeLP400]

Dispite the car still starting i would go for the alternator( low charge rate) although the battery light could be on for a number of reasons including poor wiring. Most garages, like mine (greenway garage a few miles north of York) would be able to check the charge rate and battery while u wait as its a simple procedure so any garage near u should be able to help and i cant speak for all garages but we do not charge for this sort of forcourt help. regards stephen

[emu88]

Cheers for the reply! I see, so if it's just a low charge rate it might take me many many more miles before it finally wouldn't start.

Would your garage be able to do an oil change and coolant change too? How much would they be might I ask?

[mybrainhurts]

Oi do believe you have to ask...

[emu88]

Ahh well I was just gonna go to Tescos but the starter turned over REAL slowly. Engine started but after turning on the headlights all the dash lights and lights for the gear lever were very dim. Windscreen wiper worked VERY slow too. So battery is on it's LAST legs? Would a quick charge all day of the battery to full strength be fine to then charge it enough to drive to the garage?

[FlauM]

This happened on my zetec s once. I switched the volt meter on on the dash display and watched the battery charge fall and fall. The alternator struggled to put charge in it

[emu88]

FlauM said:

This happened on my zetec s once. I switched the volt meter on on the dash display and watched the battery charge fall and fall. The alternator struggled to put charge in it

Really! what was the solution?? please don't say new alternator.

Could it be a crap battery not able to receive charge from a good alternator?

[FlauM]

Mine was a new alternator job cost a bomb - and that was on a ford!

[giblet]

A replacement alternator on a micra won't cost that much, especially if it's a K11.

[emu88]

giblet said:

A replacement alternator on a micra won't cost that much, especially if it's a K11.

Relief! Thanks. Can you give me a ballpark figure at all, so I know I won't be ripped off too much?

Edit: Recharged the battery and replaced it today and as expected, everything works fine and dandy except the red light is still on, so it would drain again within a few days.

[giblet]

emu88 said:

Relief! Thanks. Can you give me a ballpark figure at all, so I know I won't be ripped off too much?

Edit: Recharged the battery and replaced it today and as expected, everything works fine and dandy except the red light is still on, so it would drain again within a few days.

Price will vary if you go for a used one or a new one. What year and engine size is the Micra? Reconditioned ones with 12 months warranty seem to be £70-£80 on ebay, a local breaker could probably supply a second hand one for half that.

[burriana]

Find a decent little garage within walking distance and get it in quick so that at least you know all the facts, rather than guessing what it might be.

How old is the car? Must say that the alternator seems to be the obvious culprit but a recon one shouldn't be much more than a new battery.

Don't get one from a scrap yard. You have no guarantees. At least a recon one will be like new. Mine needed replacing on the Testarossa earlier this year. £70 rebuilt.

To get an idea just search recon alternator, nissan micra

[emu88]

Thanks for the replies. It's a 2000 X reg, 1 litre Automatic Micra S.

I have found a local garage, Faber garage, with very good reviews: http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/garage/details/M...

Rang them up and they said bring it in on Tuesday (they're repainting workshop) and they'll have a look and let me know prices. The guy said it could just be a simple wiring fault, so hopefully that is it rather than a new Alternator!

I've charged the battery full and this should give me a good 50 miles I guess, for just driving around town until Tuesday.

[burriana]

Nissan - Hmmm, ok
Micra - You're pushing it but, V15 BEN set the precedent so we'll let you off on that one
1.0 - As long as you drive it enthusiastically then I guess so
...
1.0 AND Automatic? - :camel'sbackbrokensmiley: You're barred!



Good luck on Tuesday, fingers crossed. I'm passing some of my good fortune from today over, because I've had a right result!

[emu88]

burriana said:

Nissan - Hmmm, ok
Micra - You're pushing it but, V15 BEN set the precedent so we'll let you off on that one
1.0 - As long as you drive it enthusiastically then I guess so
...
1.0 AND Automatic? - :camel'sbackbrokensmiley: You're barred!



Good luck on Tuesday, fingers crossed. I'm passing some of my good fortune from today over, because I've had a right result!

I know, I wanted a nice 70s Beetle (not that it would be any more powerful than the micra) but at least it would be manual! You can guess why I had to get an automatic!

Thanks for the good luck, what good result did you get today?

[burriana]

this one

Doesn't seem much, but after not being able to find a replacement pair of tyres anywhere in the world outside of a six week wait, it was a result to me

[emu88]

burriana said:

this one

Doesn't seem much, but after not being able to find a replacement pair of tyres anywhere in the world outside of a six week wait, it was a result to me

Nice! I know the feeling of getting something after a long hunt.

About my alternator, I had a look and it seems quite black and sticky, especially around all the wires. Worth pulling out the wires, cleaning them and giving them a check to make sure all is firm?

[emu88]

Ok well i have measured the voltage at the alternator. With engine off, 10.4v and with engine running, 12.12v. Alternator bad?

Also what alternator is for the 2000 micra? I have A hitachi that when i search the model number it seems to fitted on all 1.3 or 1.4 litre micras, but mine is a 1. Could i have the wrong alternator installed and if so, can i get another kind?

[burriana]

burriana said:

Find a decent little garage within walking distance and get it in quick so that at least you know all the facts, rather than guessing what it might be.