Opel Combo-Battery Light on????

andreac

Hi, does anyone know what the reason the battery light would come on on the dash? It just came on while i was driving yest and it hasnt gone back off yet. It goes off when i rev the engine. I got a fella from a car shop to have quick look and he couldnt see anything major wrong with it.

The engine does sound little bit different and im just wondering is it serious?

I only got it about a month ago and its still under warrenty so it will be going back in to get checked out today hopefully.
Thanks

the merchant

Loose fan belt or faulty altenator.

andreac

ok thanks a mill, are either of them serious and can i keep driving it til i get it over to the garage?

Esel

When the light is on, the battery is not being charged, so it will eventually go completely flat. Depends on how much you drive in the meantime, tbh.

mickdw

Well if reving makes the light go out, the belt must be still there. I would say dodgy alternator

MCMLXXXIII

mickdw is right, the belt is working fine if you can rev the engine like that.

Get it fixed. I had the same problem once and thought I could make it somewhere. On my way home one night, the electronics in my car started failing one-by-one. My radio, then tachometer, then speedometer, everything all the way until eventually my headlights turned off. The battery had run out. The motor was working fine, but when I pulled over to look, I opened the door, the lights inside blinked on, then off, the car died and I needed a tow and a ride home.

It's a quick fix, and not really that expensive (compared to other things), so it's worth checking out before its too late.

crosstownk

the merchant wrote: »

Loose fan belt or faulty altenator.

+1.

There is also the possibility that it could be an electronic fault.

But if it's the belt or the alternator and you don't get it seen to, you'll know soon enough as very shortly there won't be any electric current. Nine times out ten this will happen when you attempt to start the van as the starter requires the most current so will usually be the first to suffer. If you do long distance driving then it may just 'sit down'.

Best advice is have it checked ASAP.

macroman

Have a look at the fan belt - push it, it should bow slighty but there shouldn't be any slack. If there is slack, and it flexes I'd suggest it's either the tensioner or belt itself. If there isn't any slack or flex then it's possibly the alternator itself.

snowman707

andreac wrote: »

The engine does sound little bit different and im just wondering is it serious?


Thanks

What kind of sound ? If it is a sharp screech on accelaration it could be a slipping fan belt, if it is a whine or a growling / grating sound the end bearing in the alternator might be shot & needs to be sorted asap 'cos it may seize or do more damage

andreac

well it died on me yest at lunch, went to start it and it wouldnt. So the garage came out to collect it so im hoping they will let me know what it is and that its not too serious. thanks for all the replies.

Esel

andreac wrote: »

... can i keep driving it til i get it over to the garage?

andreac wrote: »

well it died on me yest at lunch, went to start it and it wouldnt.

So, you just kept driving it then? Why did you bother asking for advice if you were just going to ignore it?

andreac

Esel,
the garage couldnt take it in til the day it died on me, was meant to bring it back the day before but they had no replacement car for me and told me to keep driving and if anything happened i had to phone them, which i did.They sent out replacement car and a recovery truck to take van away.

So to answer your question, no i didnt ignore you, i had no other choice but to keep driving it as thats what they told me to do.

ei0675

So any result on this? my light has come on too and all works but to be honest first thing i thought was altenator... am i right? how much are we talking to put right??