Battery / alternator or both???

[marlboro]

I first noticed a possible problem on Friday. After starting the alternator light stayed on for about the first minute then went out as normal.

Thinking there may be a problem I checked the battery voltage, this was 12.2V and with the engine running 13.5V. I guessed the car just needed a run to charge the battery.

Today the battery totally gave up, car started miss-firing and after pulling over would not even crank over the engine, just heard the starter solenoid.

I'll replace the battery as its at least two years old and they're never the same after a deep discharge.

Is it possible my alternator is playing up ?? When I tested the charging I expected more than 13.5V or could the a duff battery cause this ??

Cheers
Brian

[ribol]

Probably a daft question but are you sure the belt is not loose or covered in oil and slipping?

If you put a fully charged working battery on, new or old and the misfire/non starting problem goes then is will almost certainly be a charging problem. If the problem was due to current drain the car would still run properly regardless. The next step will be to work out if it is a wiring/link or alternator problem.

Ivan

[anonymous-user]

Check the fuse link (small black box on the chassis rail) under the starter motor.

They can blow and the alternator will not charge the battery.

The car then dies when the battery goes flat.

[mongoose]

i had a charge light staying on for between 1 and 15 mins,of course when the light went out it was charging ok(checked).aa man said it was probably a sticking brush(another heat related problem!).changed the alternator for re-con and had no further problems.

[marlboro]

Thanks all.

It was the 100A fuse link, 70p each from Hawthorns. Needless to say I bought two and now carry a spare.

Didn't appear as if it had blown, more like just broken with fatigue.