Battery light??

[pat_986]

Hi guys

The battery light on my 1996 Valver has started to stay lit when driving.
Also the windows have started to slow down.

The battery is maybe 2/3years old, the alternator may well be the original unit and the car is on 100k.
The belt is fine and has never squealed.

How do I do my test to find out if it is the battery or alternator?

Thanks
Patrick

I posted this on cs while we were down, Since then I left the car on charge overnight, and still found the light on in the morning.

When holding a multimeter over the battery terminals, the numbers don’t rise when the engine is running.
Although It does go out when I reach high revs when driving.

I have had no problems starting the car, and on the whole the electrics are fine, the windows were slow on one trip but seem fine now.

Basically is my alternator f**ked or the battery?

[nyk]

If you go to your nearest motor factors store (like motor world or halfords) they will test the battery for you and tell you if you need a new one.

[stew]

sounds like altenator.

i had this coming back from cadwell - only made it 140miles out of 400 before it died.

[pat_986]

Thanks guys, if I get the battery looked at what will they test for......

I mean will it say disscharged.....but will charge or
disscharged.....dead & will not charge?

[pat_986]

sounds like altenator.

i had this coming back from cadwell - only made it 140miles out of 400 before it died.

Did you fit a new one yourself?

If I need a new alternator, is it worth getting one seccondhand, or always buy new??? Just a bit skint at the mo!

[stew]

yeah i fitted it myself.

i bought new from renault £111 but dont want that happening again.

easy enough to fit, take maybe 2 hours max to take old one out and new one in, and thats having never done it b4.

you can test if the altenator is "working" / charging by holding a voltmeter on the -ve battery and the +ve altenator lead - if it reads fook all then there is no charge.

[pat_986]

Yeah I did that, and there was no significant differance when the engine is running..............my only worrie is if the battery is f**ked and not accepting the charge?

[fasterthanjesus]

how old is your battery?

[pat_986]

Hard to say.................2-3 years old??

[fasterthanjesus]

i had a problem with my battery, checked out ok on the standard tests, but wouldnt hold a charge for more than 3 days.

if its a good make, it should be ok for 2-3 years old.

depends also on how often its run, and how far its driven.

i never had a battery light problem, not until after 3 days.

[stew]

im seriously guessing altenator

[pat_986]

im seriously guessing altenator

Me to, like I say just short on cash, dont want to buy one and find its wasted :(

[pat_986]

Yep, £110 lighter..........it was the alternator, was ok fitting it as stew said about 2hours.

Glad it's fixed, till the next fault............................................. .................