Battery Light Came on

faolteam

My battery light came on today and i turned engine off for a few minutes to see if there was a poblem and it might go off it didnt i tried it again still stayed on , power steering got a bit heavy ,so an hour later i checked the battery with a meter on terminals it said it was fine and was charging ok, then when i checked dash board the Battery light was off, should i drive it now or will it happen again ?

Probably your alternator failing. Use your voltmeter to check the voltage when the engine is running - it should be at a fairly steady 14.1v, if it varies much then the alternator is on the way out.

faolteam

ill have to check for a voltmeter,

but the battery light going off wouldnt have been a issue with terminals

faolteam

i just looked at my records and i got an Alternator and belt

in November 2022

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122539628#Comment_122539628

Any car that uses a smart charging system will have the voltage fluctuate between 12 -16v depending on load and battery charge level, the 14v thing was the case in the 90s but many cars have now moved away from that

faolteam

unfortunately i dont have a voltmmeter and the battery light has gone off am i taking a risk gioing out in it ?

Alternator and Fan was replaced in Nov 2022

Whocare

Probably gone again if cheap parts was used

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122539868#Comment_122539868

To be honest even a cheap alternator should last a decade.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122539796#Comment_122539796

The risk you face is been stranded if your battery runs flat. Less of an issue with diesels which can run off their own momentum - but I once had the light go out even though the engine was still running. With the prevelance of everything electric you are unlikely to be so lucky.

faolteam

Ok guys quick update , yes i went out and the battery light came on after 15 mins , the Alternator and fan was replaced Nov 2022 as far as i know was brand new my mechanic is very paticular about Genuine parts etc, even the Bosch Battery is Dec 23

how long is warranty on an alternator i am a psv driver,?

would it be good to charge the battery up at so i would have enough to get to the mechanic

What your indicator light is most likely reading is a low battery voltage, it might only be a momentary droop but once the ECU sees it then it will log a code and keep it untill it is cleared and the issue is resolved. Without a meter to check the voltage it's all guesswork however.

Have you got a basic code reader to check the error ?

Are there any funny sounds coming from the alternator ? A failed alternator clutch might load the engine down and cause the belt to slip/screech.

faolteam

yea i have a basic code reader but nothing showed up, no noise

the battery light did go off but when i drove 2 km it came back on

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122539879#Comment_122539879

Not an rtx brand anyway, guaranteed premature failure 😅

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122539890#Comment_122539890

It would want to be an old diesel with all mechanical setup to run without power.

faolteam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122540080#Comment_122540080

Hi Shoog, No codes from Reader, And yes i did hear a Clanky sound near the Alternator without sounding to Alarming

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122540675#Comment_122540675

Yes sounds bad like the alternator clutch has failed. Get it to the mechanic and put it on charge in the mean time.

Could also be something else on the engine.

Draining your battery will damage it as well so.

MacDanger

Are you 100% sure it was the alternator that was replaced in Nov 22 and not just the alternator belt? Typically it'd only be replaced on failure i.e. you'd have been having battery issues at that time

Any chance it'd be the battery?

faolteam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122540706#Comment_122540706

Yes €400 euro cost for fan belt and Alterntor and i have had 3 batteries in that car as well, Last battery Nov 2023, its a Toyota Corolla Taxi

faolteam

Update Folks, I found a Charger Volt Meter Car Battery Monitor with LED Voltage & Amps Display, Cigarette Lighter Adapter, and i forgot i had it plugged it in 12.2 - 12.4 , dropped when i revved , handy little device

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122540948#Comment_122540948

It shouldn't drop when you rev, should go up if anything. Voltage is OK so it points to the alternator still working but not consistently.

Look like a new alternator.

faolteam

Would an alternator go in a year and a half?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122541474#Comment_122541474

It certainly shouldn't.

faolteam

ok i definitely here a Clanking noise when its running , i checked this morning making 12.2- 12,2 reading no real difference when reving at all,

Have it on charge now , i dont know wherther to go to the mechanic that put it in or go to one of the alternator companies,

What is the normal Guarantee on Alternator

mickdw

This is a taxi. It will have clocked up a lifetimes work in 1.5 years.

Whocare

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122540733#Comment_122540733

€400 sounds too cheap. I remember years back probably 10 years ago 1994 Toyota diesel and motor factor was 300 or 400 just for alternator. I think problem here is cheap alternator

zg3409

There is obviously something wrong, probably new alternator needed. Driving around without fixing problem is asking to break down.

faolteam

So batterry charging taking ages to go up went up from 12.2 to 13 but still on 13.3, and charging still since 11am,

Id of thought 400 was very dear its not diesel its petrol

faolteam

I thought charging it would have turned the battery light out hope i make it to garage tomorrow

What was the result ?

faolteam

Hi Shoog, yea was the Alternator relay was gone and casing needed good cleaning bushes were fine , least its fixed thanks all

9935452

Its entirely possible when the alternator was replaced, it was eithre just reconditioned or replaced with a reconditioned one

So.e lads will find the brushes are gone and just do that. Rest of alternator is not touched.

Price wise i paid a motor factors 350 for one for a B8 A4 cause i was stuck.

Found the same one online for 180 delivered

faolteam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122575500#Comment_122575500

That was pricey