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Battery light on dashboard

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  • 24-11-2014 8:33am
    #1
    NeVeR
    Registered Users Posts: 5,330 ✭✭✭


    Hi All.

    Woke up this morning and started the car as normal and heard this noise.. like a whining noise it wasn't there last night ( I was driving about 9pm last night )

    I then noticed the red battery light was on on the dashboard.

    The noise didn't stop all the way to work.. it's not a very loud noise but it's noticeable.

    While the obvious answer is to replace to battery.. could it be anything else ?

    When i got to work I turned the engine off and started it again.. while it did start it seemed to struggle...

    There's a Halfords close by and I was going to get them to fit a battery at lunch time ( If it starts )

    One other thing i noticed was a headlight was gone.. while this happens from time to time.. i'm wondering if this time it had anything to do with the battery light / noise .

    any info would be great.

    Car is a 06 honda accord

    Thanks.


Comments

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    #2
    irish gent
    Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭irish gent


    Could be fan belt slipping


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    #3
    NeVeR
    Registered Users Posts: 5,330 ✭✭✭NeVeR


    irish gent wrote: »
    Could be fan belt slipping

    would that trigger the batter light to come on ?


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    #4
    Skatedude
    Registered Users Posts: 2,674 ✭✭✭Skatedude


    Alternator might be on its way out, if it's starting to seize, then you would be getting the noise as the belt is slipping.
    the battery light indicates that the battery is not been charged properly.


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    #5
    NeVeR
    Registered Users Posts: 5,330 ✭✭✭NeVeR


    How much is an Alternator ? .. I'm going to have to drop this to the garage.


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    #6
    ronaneire
    Registered Users Posts: 1,698 ✭✭✭ronaneire


    NeVeR wrote: »
    How much is an Alternator ? .. I'm going to have to drop this to the garage.

    It's not your battery. The battery light is on because the alternator is not charging.


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    #7
    Chimaera
    Registered Users Posts: 1,652 ✭✭✭Chimaera


    To clarify what other posters have said, it's not your battery that is the problem, it's your alternator. For some reason it is failing to charge the battery.

    Possible causes (based on the squealing you describe): worn/damaged drive belt (cheap fix), damaged bearing in the alternator pulley (much more expensive). A mechanic should be able to tell you in a few minutes what the problem is.


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    #8
    NeVeR
    Registered Users Posts: 5,330 ✭✭✭NeVeR


    I've booked it in for 4 o clock at my local garage.. I just checked and it's still starting.. I hope it is later so I can get to the garage.

    cheers lads.


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    #9
    MrDerp
    Registered Users Posts: 991 ✭✭✭MrDerp


    NeVeR wrote: »
    I've booked it in for 4 o clock at my local garage.. I just checked and it's still starting.. I hope it is later so I can get to the garage.

    cheers lads.

    Don't keep starting it! You're draining a battery that's not charging. When you drive to the garage later turn everything off.


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    #10
    MarkR
    Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,082 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    Park with your bonnet out, and see if anyone has any jump leads, just in case.


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    #11
    NeVeR
    Registered Users Posts: 5,330 ✭✭✭NeVeR


    I won't start it again.. leaving in about an hour to go garage.

    If it does start .. is there a risk of the car stopping half way there.. or once it's started it should be ok ?


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    #12
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,387 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Why don't you check the fanbelt yourself to see if it's worn or there's excessive play? That's what I'd be doing before going near a garage. If it's the belt then just buy a new one from any motor factor and fit it yourself.

    As already advised, don't start the battery just to check it because it's not being charged at the moment, that's what the red battery light indicates.


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    #13
    NeVeR
    Registered Users Posts: 5,330 ✭✭✭NeVeR


    I've no exp with cars / engines.. I wouldn't want to assume it's just the belt and something bigger to be wrong.


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    #14
    NeVeR
    Registered Users Posts: 5,330 ✭✭✭NeVeR


    NeVeR wrote: »
    I've no exp with cars / engines.. I wouldn't want to assume it's just the belt and something bigger to be wrong.

    Before posting here I made this little video to record the sound mainly so it's not the best really .. And I can't leave the office to make another .. But ya might get something from it

    http://youtu.be/jluUOtZcYoc


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    #15
    Chimaera
    Registered Users Posts: 1,652 ✭✭✭Chimaera


    NeVeR wrote: »
    Before posting here I made this little video to record the sound mainly so it's not the best really .. And I can't leave the office to make another .. But ya might get something from it

    http://youtu.be/jluUOtZcYoc

    Belt looks intact there. I can't hear much out of the ordinary either.

    One other possibility is that the regulator has failed on the alternator: it's a cheap enough part and not difficult to fit.


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