Battery not charging...why?

[Seany88]

Wondering if anyone can help, battery light has been flicking on/off for past couple of days and today it stayed on the whole journey home. Fortunately I made it home, only to find it won't start again. What could the problem be? Is it a common problem? 03 320d by the way.

Will be taking it to get battery checked out tomorrow asap and then to BMW if the battery is fine. Any other ideas?

[Talkwrench]

It could be a loose connection on the alternator but it is more lkely to be that the alternator is faulty. A faulty battery don't usually cause the charge light to flicker or come on.

[Seany88]

I'm guessing that'll be expensive I need new tyres and discs and pads as well!! Gonna be a poor month...

[Welshbeef]

IIRC an Alternator (about 8 years ago) for an Austin Meastro was about £60 & exchange unit.

[Seany88]

Just got a quote...at a diagnostic rate of half an hr (£65) total is ~£600!! :'(

Battery is getting charged right now...the guy tested it and reckons it might not be the alternator! Here's hoping!! I have been doing relatively short journeys recently and using the radio and cigarette lighter a fair bit when the engine isn't running. Could it be possible that the battery has run down over time?

[Vee]

Seany88 said:

Just got a quote...at a diagnostic rate of half an hr (£65) total is ~£600!! :'(

Battery is getting charged right now...the guy tested it and reckons it might not be the alternator! Here's hoping!! I have been doing relatively short journeys recently and using the radio and cigarette lighter a fair bit when the engine isn't running. Could it be possible that the battery has run down over time?

Does the flickering battery light coincide with you using electrical items int he car ?
Wipers, ciggie lighter, etc ?
It could be the alternator belt simply slipping as opposed to the alternator itself.

Go and buy a multimeter (<£10) if you don't already have one.
With the car running, measure the voltage across the battery terminals - it should be 13v.
If its lower than this then the alternator isn't charging the battery.
The belt is only about £12 so try changing this first. If this doesn't work, it's likely the alternator needs doing.

I have a manual 3.0 petrol and did the swap myself within an hour - it turned out the alternator was gone.
Not sure what a 2.0d looks like though.

[Seany88]

No it seems to happen randomly really. Changed the battery and the light still stayed on, though it did turn itself off for a couple of hours but has now come back on.

It goes off when I go above 2.5k rpm if that makes any difference?

I will have a look at the belt, is there any way to tell if its slipping or is it just a case of change it and see?

[Vee]

Change it an see.
Is your car a manual ? If so removing the radiator fan is very easy. If auto, then it's a bit more complicated.

[Seany88]

Yeh its a manual. Well battery is definitely not being charged. Other battery was tested and seems to be fine so going to check belt tomorrow and if not, new alternator i guess.

[Mroad]

Take it to an auto electrician, they may be able to repair the alternator rather than replace (possibly the voltage regulator which can be repaired). They will certainly be able to test out the system and replace an alternator cheaper than BMW.

[Seany88]

Mroad said:

Take it to an auto electrician, they may be able to repair the alternator rather than replace (possibly the voltage regulator which can be repaired). They will certainly be able to test out the system and replace an alternator cheaper than BMW.

I've managed to find an ex-BMW auto electrician who's looking at it now as we speak. Worst case scenario is replace alternator and it'll be £300 inc. labour which isn't too bad.

[Vee]

Mroad said:

Take it to an auto electrician, they may be able to repair the alternator rather than replace (possibly the voltage regulator which can be repaired). They will certainly be able to test out the system and replace an alternator cheaper than BMW.

Good call - I forgot about this as mine requried the whole alternator.

[Seany88]

Vee said:

Mroad said:

Take it to an auto electrician, they may be able to repair the alternator rather than replace (possibly the voltage regulator which can be repaired). They will certainly be able to test out the system and replace an alternator cheaper than BMW.

Good call - I forgot about this as mine requried the whole alternator.

Well to end the story, picked it up today and the cost was £335. Plus £80 for a new battery which i didn't need....anyone want a battery?