Slowly dying battery!
Discussion
Hey guys, I've been recommended this site for help on my little mini and I'm hoping you won't let me down!
Basically, a little while ago I had some work done on my baby (she's a 1994 1.3 mini cooper), it turned out that some T elbow or something in the engine had snapped, so my car had no idle what so ever ... not fun when you stall and die at a busy junction. Anyway that was a little while ago and since then I've found that the battery on my car doesn't seem to keep it's charge and so won't start the engine unless I get someone to help with a set of a jump leads. I've had the battery tested and it's fine but as soon as the lights or the blower goes on then the read out drops quite a bit... so, is this likely to be a problem with the alternator or something that might be connected with the previous work?
I've contacted the last owner and he said he had similar issues a couple of years ago but with the addition of no indicators and no dashboard ( this turned out to be a problem with the ECU).
Can you guys maybe throw me some clue as to what this problem could be and, if it is the alternator is it better to get a garage to do the work or is it pretty simple to change out yourself?
Thanks
Basically, a little while ago I had some work done on my baby (she's a 1994 1.3 mini cooper), it turned out that some T elbow or something in the engine had snapped, so my car had no idle what so ever ... not fun when you stall and die at a busy junction. Anyway that was a little while ago and since then I've found that the battery on my car doesn't seem to keep it's charge and so won't start the engine unless I get someone to help with a set of a jump leads. I've had the battery tested and it's fine but as soon as the lights or the blower goes on then the read out drops quite a bit... so, is this likely to be a problem with the alternator or something that might be connected with the previous work?
I've contacted the last owner and he said he had similar issues a couple of years ago but with the addition of no indicators and no dashboard ( this turned out to be a problem with the ECU).
Can you guys maybe throw me some clue as to what this problem could be and, if it is the alternator is it better to get a garage to do the work or is it pretty simple to change out yourself?
Thanks
does sound alternator related, do you have a voltmeter fitted? just asking cos you say when the lights etc are switched on the read out drops.
if so then whilst running the gauge should be reading about 14v, this can also be confirmed with a multimeter.
if its reading less then the alternator isnt working properly, id firstly check the belt tension is ok then if thats fine its maybe worth trying a new one, not too difficult a job to be honest should only take an hour or so with a couple spanners, though its worth fitting a new fan belt at the same time.
well worth investing in a haynes book, lots of good info on changing things and troubleshooting guides!
if so then whilst running the gauge should be reading about 14v, this can also be confirmed with a multimeter.
if its reading less then the alternator isnt working properly, id firstly check the belt tension is ok then if thats fine its maybe worth trying a new one, not too difficult a job to be honest should only take an hour or so with a couple spanners, though its worth fitting a new fan belt at the same time.
well worth investing in a haynes book, lots of good info on changing things and troubleshooting guides!
You can check the amount of power being taken by each of the ancilliary units. Just put an ammeter across the feed to the heater or the rear window or whatever you suspect is draining the power away.
However, it does sound like an alternator problem so measure the alternater output first.
However, it does sound like an alternator problem so measure the alternater output first.
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