KILL that battery light!

[blackchim]

Ok, Battery light stayed on yesterday on start up. It has done so a few times in last 6 months or so but would always go off if turned the ignition off & re started, or a mile or two down the road.
Anyway woundn't go out this time. So knowing my battery was 5 years old and had been struggling for the last two winters I have treated myself to a new one as well as checking the two 100A fuses. As it turns out the one by the starter motor had one screw almost fully out, so I've cleaned everything up and put it back together.
Checked all other wiring and connections under bonnet and in footwell and yep you guessed it light still on.......... buggar!!!!

So what next? Would the alternator suddenly go? All help gratefully reveived.

Thanks.

[blaineuk]

yes will be the alternator.

[phillpot]

blaineuk said:

yes will be the alternator.

+1

Suddenly go ? you said it's been playing up for 6 months !

Edited by phillpot on Sunday 5th June 22:07

[Goodwin]

I had the same recently. battery light would come on for a while then go off. Mine gradually got worse and worse. Annoyingly it was never on when I had a meter handy. As I had no 100Amp fuse and a fairly new battery I decided it was either a bad earth, dodgy alternator or somethiing more subtle to do with currents through the LED. The easiest of these was the new alternator. It solved my problem completely. I would suggest you look to getting a new one now as few places hold them in stock so they will need to order in. You can then keep it and a few tools in the boot until your present one fails. Its an easy swap - just be careful of the larger connectors as they go to the battery - if they touch the block (any it is easy for it to happen) then you will short battery to earth.

Good Luck

[blackchim]

Thanks guy's, took it out for a good thrash and the light soon went out and has stayed that way.
Given the car has done 67K looks like (as you say) the alternator is on the way out, and am fairly sure its the original part.
More expenditure!