Ford Ka - Battery, Alternator advice
Discussion
Hi chaps,
My '00MY Ka has had the battery light flickering on and off the last couple of days. I drive it 25 miles on the motorway and the light was going out after a few miles of motorway. I'd put the batter light down to the recent cold weather, and didn;t give it too much thought.
Tonight however, the battery light came on, followed by a gradual dimming of the headlights, the seatbelt light came on as did the temp light, dashboard got dmmer and finally the engine stuttered to a halt (luckily, amazingly, only 20yards from home after the 25mile commute home).
Is this problem likely to be solved by a change of battery, or does tonights cut out signal a problem with the alternator? How much should I be looking at paying to get the alternatorsorted if that is indeed the case?
Thanks
My '00MY Ka has had the battery light flickering on and off the last couple of days. I drive it 25 miles on the motorway and the light was going out after a few miles of motorway. I'd put the batter light down to the recent cold weather, and didn;t give it too much thought.
Tonight however, the battery light came on, followed by a gradual dimming of the headlights, the seatbelt light came on as did the temp light, dashboard got dmmer and finally the engine stuttered to a halt (luckily, amazingly, only 20yards from home after the 25mile commute home).
Is this problem likely to be solved by a change of battery, or does tonights cut out signal a problem with the alternator? How much should I be looking at paying to get the alternatorsorted if that is indeed the case?
Thanks
Not sure how much alternators are nowadays. I would give the local motor factors a ring (numbers in the yellow pages) and they will tell you exactly how much they are, no mark up or middle-man. Have you tried tightening the alternator belt? They don't always squeal when they slip, especially of a bit or oil has got onto it.
Battery is possible, but usually when a battery goes it is at the start of a journey when trying to start the engine. When the engine is running, the alternator is normally charging the battery and powering the rest of the car/engine. It is quite possible for an engine to run without a battery, although stuff like headlamps, blower, rear screen heat can cause it to look to the battery for temporary assistance. Again, best source for a battery is a factors. I got one a couple of years for half the price the cheapest garage quoted me. I got a better spec battery too!
Battery is possible, but usually when a battery goes it is at the start of a journey when trying to start the engine. When the engine is running, the alternator is normally charging the battery and powering the rest of the car/engine. It is quite possible for an engine to run without a battery, although stuff like headlamps, blower, rear screen heat can cause it to look to the battery for temporary assistance. Again, best source for a battery is a factors. I got one a couple of years for half the price the cheapest garage quoted me. I got a better spec battery too!
Without looking at the invoice I can't be certain exactly how much - but I've just had (see my thread!) the loom changed on mine after a similar problem. Thankfully mine is still under warranty
Yours has (probably) stopped because the battery wasn't charging, so at a point there was no spark = no bang = no go!
It IS going to be a problem with the charging circuit, but it could be one of many things. Alternator, belt, loom, loose wire? Very doubtful that it will be the battery itself though.
Yours has (probably) stopped because the battery wasn't charging, so at a point there was no spark = no bang = no go!
It IS going to be a problem with the charging circuit, but it could be one of many things. Alternator, belt, loom, loose wire? Very doubtful that it will be the battery itself though.
I had almost exactly this on my fiesta, went to buy an alternator. Cost about £50.
Got home, jacked the car up, got the tools out ready to rip the old alternator out.
Took one look at the alternator and saw that the lead from the alternator, where it passed the exhaust manifold, had unclipped itself somehow and suffered bad heatsoak and practically crumbled apart. Very easy to fix however, and cost nothing to find some new wire and resolder the connectors on. I made sure it was firmly clipped back in though!
So moral of the story is, check wiring first!
Got home, jacked the car up, got the tools out ready to rip the old alternator out.
Took one look at the alternator and saw that the lead from the alternator, where it passed the exhaust manifold, had unclipped itself somehow and suffered bad heatsoak and practically crumbled apart. Very easy to fix however, and cost nothing to find some new wire and resolder the connectors on. I made sure it was firmly clipped back in though!
So moral of the story is, check wiring first!
Edited by lunchbox on Friday 11th January 20:58
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