Battery Light - Skoda Octavia

Birroc

Hi,

The battery light just came on in my Skoda Octavia while I was driving home. What could it mean and what should I do given that most garages are closed now?

Skoda 2005 diesel with 120,000 miles.

spiggotpaddy

Check to see if your fan belt is broke. If not you may need an alternator.

Seanieke

If you have a multimeter set it to DC and check you're getting 14.4volts across the battery terminals with the car running.
If not it's an alternator problem. Only €50-80 to get reconditioned.

Birroc

Sounds serious so, I thought just a new battery. Who would fix an alternator on Xmas Eve? Would AdvancePitStop or one of those places?

The Big Lebowsky

If you are in absolutely desperate need to keep your car operational over christmas, then your local friendly car dismantler should have one in stock...

The pulley on these units has a clutch mechanism...You would need to check this carefully before you part with your cash.. It should rotate in only one direction...smoothly without any play....

There is a feature on fitting these on u tube...Good luck...

Nissan doctor

Birroc wrote: »

Sounds serious so, I thought just a new battery. Who would fix an alternator on Xmas Eve? Would AdvancePitStop or one of those places?

Repairing them is outsourced by most garages or, more usually, the broken unit is exchanged for a reconditioned one to save time.

If the alternator has failed completely(battery only showing +/-12v with engine running) then you might well be stuck until after Christmas.

Birroc

spiggotpaddy wrote: »

Check to see if your fan belt is broke. If not you may need an alternator.

Yes the belt is shredded. Is it a big job to fix that?

Nissan doctor

Birroc wrote: »

Yes the belt is shredded. Is it a big job to fix that?

Not a big job at all...once it didn't shred due to a faulty or failed pulley. How far you can drive it depends on how good your battery is as the battery will drain very quickly.

Birroc

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Not a big job at all...once it didn't shred due to a faulty or failed pulley. How far you can drive it depends on how good your battery is as the battery will drain very quickly.

I think the battery is decent but I drove 5 miles in the dark last night to get home after the light came on. Do I have to bring it to a mechanic or will a AdvancePitStop or the like fix it?

Birroc

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Not a big job at all...once it didn't shred due to a faulty or failed pulley. How far you can drive it depends on how good your battery is as the battery will drain very quickly.

I think the battery is decent but I drove 5 miles in the dark last night to get home after the light came on. Do I have to bring it to a mechanic or will a AdvancePitStop or the like fix it?

Actually now that I think of it, the car was idling high and a bit louder lately - I should have known something was wrong because this car never gives me any problems.

Nissan doctor

Birroc wrote: »

I think the battery is decent but I drove 5 miles in the dark last night to get home after the light came on. Do I have to bring it to a mechanic or will a AdvancePitStop or the like fix it?

Actually now that I think of it, the car was idling high and a bit louder lately - I should have known something was wrong because this car never gives me any problems.

Anywhere should be able to fix it if they have the belt, unfortunately, even if the garage is open, if they don't have the belt in stock then most of the parts suppliers/motor factors will be closed.

Where about's are you based?

Birroc

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Anywhere should be able to fix it if they have the belt, unfortunately, even if the garage is open, if they don't have the belt in stock then most of the parts suppliers/motor factors will be closed.

Where about's are you based?

About 12 miles from Galway city on N59 past Moycullen

Nissan doctor

Birroc wrote: »

About 12 miles from Galway city on N59 past Moycullen

Don't think I can help you so:o

The likes of advance should have no problem doing it, its a 10 min job....once they have the belt.

Birroc

Would Halfords have a fan belt?

spiggotpaddy

Birroc wrote: »

Would Halfords have a fan belt?

No, you'll have borrow a pair of your grannies tights until the motor factors open.

wonski

Birroc wrote: »

Would Halfords have a fan belt?

They usually have some fan belts in stock - you would have to go/give them a call to see if they have one.

wonski

spiggotpaddy wrote: »

No, you'll have borrow a pair of your grannies tights until the motor factors open.

Some time ago i purchased belt at Halfords(Naas), and they had some selection, not impressive one, but better than nothing.
I could find one for 2000 Fiat, pretty sure there is a chance you will find one for Octavia.

The Big Lebowsky

Actually now that I think of it, the car was idling high and a bit louder lately -


This means the alternator clutch pulley has failed. It caused increased friction on your alternator belt...This is what caused the belt to fail...
If you are handy with the spanners you could repair it yourself, otherwise I would leave it to the professionals

Have a look at the link below....You gotta love this guys accent...he does a great job of explaining the whole procedure of changing the clutch pulley..

http://youtu.be/fyosuYbPxr4

gfmatthe

Hi, Alt pulley has defo gone. Chances are when the belt went it also took out tensioner. Tensioner and alt pulley are surposed to be changed as a matter of routine maintance every 70,000 miles. occasionally the alt bearnings can also go depending on how long the pulley lasted before failing, heat generated will light up the pulley and radiate heat to the bearings.

Most garages replace all items to avoid come back. Depending on car / model, pulley purchage usually 60 - 80 euro, tensioner 80 - 120 euro, belt 10 euro, recon alt 80 euro up depending on make. Huge difference in labour costs depending on Garage, make and model.

I did a Renault Megane last week (alt was ok) book time was 1.5 hours for pulley, tensioner, and belt. Did a Passat (B5) also last week book time was over two hours due to front of car needing to be put in service position. Owner also requested a timing belt and water pump kit at same time as it made sense to do this while in service position.

Save your self a return visit and do alt pulley and tensioner at same time. Even if tensioner is ok chances are it will fail shortly after and cost the same again in labour.

Gary.

Birroc

Mechanic looked at the car. The fan belt snapping was caused by a diesel filter leak. There is filthy diesel all around the belt so he reckons the diesel leak weakened the belt and caused it to shred. Hope its an easy one to fix.

gfmatthe

Did he check the alt. pulley and tensioner?

Birroc

gfmatthe wrote: »

Did he check the alt. pulley and tensioner?

I assume so, I mentioned them to him. It's driving perfect now anyway.