Red Battery light on and losing acceleration - 330CI

[Soir]

morning all

coming into work this morning, battery light comes on (red) and although still drives, will not accelerate as normal (lot's of power loss) seems to be struggling with the gears (auto)

Will replacing the battery fix this do you think?

[E30M3SE]

Get your alternator checked, probably not charging, a new battery will solve the problem , but, if the new battery is not being charged the same will happen.

[Soir]

was the alternator- damn it

approx £180 from eurocarparts - anyone know cheaper?

[sniff petrol]

Soir said:

was the alternator- damn it

approx £180 from eurocarparts - anyone know cheaper?

Where abouts are you from? Can get it reconditioned for £30

[mmm-five]

If you do get it reconditioned, then make sure you specify what level of recon you want. I went through 3 in about a months (including 3 trips on the back of breakdown trucks) after getting my original one recon'd.

The problem was that they simply replaced the voltage regulator and bushes on the 1st. They replaced the same on the 2nd after it stopped charging a week later. The 3rd was done elsewhere after I was left stranded at Dover on the way to Europe for a driving holiday.

The problem turned out to be an ovalised commutator ring which meant the new bushes & voltage regulator would work on the bench and for a few miles on the car, until the ovalised ring bashed the brushes enough to break them again.

For an extra £10 (on top of the normal £60) it was worth it.