Octavia 1.8T dead battery problem
Octavia 1.8T dead battery problem
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PeteG

Original Poster:

4,278 posts

241 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
Right. Driving yesterday, warning lights started coming on, lost power, pulled up in a safe place and turned it off - tried to turn back on again (applying Windows logic wink ) and wouldn't fire. Called the RAC, diagnosed alt not charging, dead battery. Plugged my battery into his van for a half hour, to give it enough juice to get home.

Got a new alternator, swapped it over, fired it up - alt light took a few moments to go out, then went out - car idled happily for a couple of minutes, revved OK, all fine. Intending to take it for a long run to get the battery fully charged, packed my tools into the boot, and the car started to struggle. Tried blipping the throttle, no response.

So - does it need a bit of a charge off another battery or car (like the RAC man did) to get it going, then I can take it for a longer run to charge it fully - or is there something more sinister? Haven't got a voltmeter, but the RAC man's showed 12.5v rather than the 13.8ish it should have had when it was running - leading to the alt diagnosis.

Is it worth giving the battery terminals a wirebrush and a clean, perhaps to help?

varsas

4,076 posts

232 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
12.5v might suggest a dead cell in the battery, have you checked the battery? Take it to any tyre fitter type place, they should be able to test the it for you.

it's possible (but unlikely) the alternator needs a few more revs then idle to actually charge the battery...i really doubt it though, especially if the light went out. Personally, I'd remove the battery, charge it over night (your charger might even be able to tell you if the battery if faulty), then try again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYaSoswR00E

Edited by varsas on Friday 14th May 16:12

PeteG

Original Poster:

4,278 posts

241 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
Might it be worth fitting a new battery anyway?

ETA: at them moment the car is immobile again, with time getting on I imagine most tyre places will be knocking off soon... never heard of a dead cell ebfore so ta muchly biggrin

Edited by PeteG on Friday 14th May 16:13

varsas

4,076 posts

232 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
PeteG said:
Might it be worth fitting a new battery anyway?
Get it tested first...as I say halfords/quickfit/merityre will test it for you. but yeah running a battery flat will put it under a lot of stress and could easily finish it off.

Edited by varsas on Friday 14th May 16:13