Charge Light

[John.T.]

My Chim has just started tonight with an odd occurance. I came to it, started it, put the side lights on, opened the boot to put a bag in and the lights weren't on....the dash lights were but no side or tails. Anyway, after a moment they decided to come on, then, i noticed an hour later that the charge light was glowing and if i rev the engine it made no difference. The light wasn't bright, just glowing but it went brighter as i used the heater fan. I switched the engine off and all the lights etc and re started it, the charge light stayed really bright until i revved it past 3k then it went to a faint glow again... BUGGER!

I'm crap with electrics and wondered if anyone has any ideas.
I can not get the light to go out at all, it keeps glowing faint until i use the fan etc, also the lights were dimmed slightly and the window went up slow.

:-(

[spend]

Get your alternator checked, in the meantime it would be prudent to keep the battery charged up. Check the alternator fuse if you have one..

[blujay10]

Second checking the 100amp fuse.

[John.T.]

100 amp??? Where will i find this rascal and what are the symptoms of it going?

[cloggy]

John.T. said:

100 amp??? Where will i find this rascal and what are the symptoms of it going?

On the chassis under the engine on the drivers side in a little plastic box, there also may be a second one near the battery.

See pictures here;

http://www.chimaerapages.com/resources_fuse.php

The symptoms are that your battery does not load.

Edited by cloggy on Wednesday 30th April 11:16

[John.T.]

OK, the script so far is that when i start it up the charge light is bright, if i rev the engine the light goes out for a sec then comes back on. I can do this 4 or 5 times but once revved beyond 4k it goes out, well , almost, just left with a faint glow. Now i don't know a great lot about electrics but i suspect that if the fuse is knackered the kight will just stay bright as its either blown or its not.....am i right ??

I've driven around the strets just and the light appears off but its faint.

[John.T.]

Ooooh things are progressing.. I went to test the alt with a snap on tool i have. It says to connect the live to the + stud on the alt and the neg to a good earth. I found a good earth yet the lights on the testing tool didn't come on showing that there is NO feed going to the alt.

I now suspect it MAY be the fuse....bastid thing..

[JonathanT]

John.T. said:

OK, the script so far is that when i start it up the charge light is bright, if i rev the engine the light goes out for a sec then comes back on. I can do this 4 or 5 times but once revved beyond 4k it goes out, well , almost, just left with a faint glow. Now i don't know a great lot about electrics but i suspect that if the fuse is knackered the kight will just stay bright as its either blown or its not.....am i right ??

I've driven around the strets just and the light appears off but its faint.

You have the same symptoms as my last two 100Amp fuse failures (ie light goes out when revved). The fuse had fractured across the middle.

[350Matt]

When you replace the fuse use one of these 'midi' fuses

http://wwww.vehicle-wiring-products.co.uk/VWPweb20...

they're rated the same but are more mechanically robust.

Matt

[spend]

350Matt said:

When you replace the fuse use one of these 'midi' fuses

http://wwww.vehicle-wiring-products.co.uk/VWPweb20...

they're rated the same but are more mechanically robust.

Matt

VWP don't sell the better quality midi holder, its the same style as the mega holder they sell & well worth the extra few pennies, someone sells them on ebay IIRC. The midis are a little more expensive but certainly better quality than the strip carp..

[Konrod]

Well you learn something everyday

I thought the charge light should come on when you went into London, and go off when you came out. Didn't go on, so didn't pay. That information has just ruined my defence..............

[John.T.]

SORTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for ALL your hints tips etc. It WAS the 100amp fuse on the underside of the car. it had fatigued in the centre.

Big thanks to 'VES' 'Vehicle Electrical Systems' of Stockport for giving phone advice and supplying the fuse FOC.. Top man.

[cloggy]

No props mate.

[DHUDD]

I had the same problem!
It was the 100amp fuse in a black box on the chassis rail buy the startor motor.